Mo
Well Mo, I spent literally months late last fall/early this winter? looking for local breeders of the breeds I wanted and had absolutely no success. (This was when I was still too shy to actually POST anything on BYC). I ended up getting hatchery stock from Elizabeth and Kiowa.
You never know what's going to show up at the swaps. BUT, IMO, I would rather take a drive to several swaps and be able to actually SEE the chicks before I bought them. I went to the Denver swap once (it was in like January, so way before chick season) and I was seriously disappointed. BUT, at that time I didn't realize there actually was a chick season. I figured chick hatching went on all year long. At that time they only had about 8 vendors in their little parking lot, and only 3 of those actually had chickens, and none of them had chicks.
If for no other reason, if the swap was large enough it might be a good way to meet and develop a relationship with some breeders. Find out who is around and what they are dealing with. Might be a good way to start networking.
If I don't go to this new one the first month, I'll probably go the next, even tho I'm not looking for anything right now. I am SO done with brooders and integrating for this year unless I get some from WSmith.