Anyone else EXCITED to be getting baby chicks in the mail soon??

[TXmom]

Chickens are definitely addicting! Originally we wanted 4-6 hens...just enough to lay some eggs for breakfast and baking. Now our flock has somehow grown to 21, and I just ordered 15 more from Ideal (through my local feed store).

They aren't shipping until March 24 because some of my chosen breeds were already sold out until then.

I'm getting:

2 Speckled Sussex
2 Indian Red Jungle Fowl
2 Light Brahmas
2 Gold Laced Wyandottes
4 Blue Cochins
3 Blue Andalusians

When I got packing peanuts with my first order, I called my feed store and they said I could bring them up there and they would find homes for them. I asked later and they said a lady took the whole box! I have no idea what she did with them, but honestly, if she invited them to dinner when they grew up that doesn't bother me. I'm a meat eater and at least those roos had a chance at a good life for a while...that's better than factory chickens.

 

[chixie]

I kept two of my packing peanuts and gave the rest away at 4 weeks... one turned out to be a pullet... this time I think that I will wait longer before I give them away....

 

[aimeeinwv]

all I can say is that I am OUTTA MY MIND with excitement!!!

 

[baldie]

9 more days for me and counting and the dh informed me that there are 43 chicks coming not the 35 I thought!!! I love my man, he rocks!!

 

[buckabucka]

Quote:
We live in Maine, and we actually considered for a moment driving all the way to Ohio so the chicks would have a safe trip! (we've since decided that was a little crazy)

I can't really speak for any hatchery, - this is my first time ordering, but I think if you search Meyer Hatchery on this forum, you will find that most people have had very good luck with them. Meyer catalog has March 15 listed as an approximate hatch date, and it says "Poultry are shipped for arrival at your local post office Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday".

I searched multiple hatcheries for peoples' experiences, and I found that every hatchery has many people with a great experience, and always one or two people who had a bad experience. I think it will help that you are fairly close by.
Good luck and here's hoping we all get healthy chicks!

 

[1/2DozenWings]

You're right: there are risks in everything in life. I'll take a day off work and drive up there to Polk OH, it's only about 2.5 hours away, max. I just learned what a packing peanut is. That's so funny!

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

YES! but im getting mine at the feed store this year, and I'm breeding, so i don't think i will be ordering offline. Im getting some ducks at the feed store, and breeding silkies. BUT the stupid feed store here doesn't have any chicks until April!

 

[chixie]

my chicks should be here thursday... I am super excited

 

[1/2DozenWings]

I'm going to take a trip to Polk Ohio. And it's going to be fun!
Thank you for your help! I needed to see things from a different perspective.

Rather than pre-bash a hatchery, I need to realize that I live in a rural area which can make mail delivery difficult (4WD required).

 

[1/2DozenWings]

I'm getting a White Cochin, a Black Jersey Giant, a Columbian Wyandotte, a Speckled Sussex, a Red Star, a Campine, 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Apenzellers, 2 Welsummers and 2 Buff Orp hens, and 2 roos: a Buff Orp and a Welsummer. I hope that they all get along now that I'm determined that they will all survive!
...42 days from now (I can't wait).