Anyone expecting chicks this week?

[Ghosty]

Just got a shipping confirmation for my chicks. They are 3 hours away, and I kinda wanted to pick them up, but I could never get a solid date on when they would be ready. I should be getting 4 Madigin claret and 3 Rat Graves leiper chicks. Hoping for a good roo and a couple of good hens. I guess I should get my brooder setup all ready!

 

[danceswithronin]

One thing I've discovered is that if you check local groups on Facebook, you can find some serious hobbyists that have breeds available within a close driving distance that you might not be able to get through a hatchery as easily, and a lot of times local folks will let you buy chicks individually instead of giving you a minimum too, so you can pick and choose as you like. I picked up my Silver Laced English Orp that way last week through a local chicken swap.

My only concern with this is biosecurity to be honest - I like getting chicks from a hatchery because I can ensure they've been vaccinated against Marek's and aren't exposed to it. But I pretty much stay away from other people's coops and keep them away from mine in the selection/selling process - if I have to sell birds I put them in a carrier and bring them to the front driveway, rather than bringing someone into the backyard around the run area. I don't want people dragging in nasty stuff on their feet that might contaminate my run.

 

[Smolfarmcatlady]

chkva your chicks are so cute. The delaware is particularly beautiful.
An advantage of a hatchery is also sexed chicks. We live in town and can't have roosters. We have a tractor supply, but they have very poor selection (cornish x, red rangers, something black with no label and nobody knows what they are, and assorted straight run ducklings).

 

[danceswithronin]

chkva your chicks are so cute. The delaware is particularly beautiful.
An advantage of a hatchery is also sexed chicks. We live in town and can't have roosters. We have a tractor supply, but they have very poor selection (cornish x, red rangers, something black with no label and nobody knows what they are, and assorted straight run ducklings).

I lucked out with my straight run of silkies last year, ended up with four pullets out of four - the only cockerel I ended up with was my Meyer Meal Maker freebie chick, and after I put him on Craigslist he got snatched up pretty quickly. I can't have roosters either unfortunately, because I LOVE them. But Mayflower was sooooooooo loud and I live in the suburbs, so that's a no go.

The chick selection at my local TSC is terrible too - you can get rangers, black sex link, or nothing. I'd much rather pay more and get the exact breeds that I want, especially since I'm more drawn to ornamental breeds and rare pattern/color varieties of traditional layers.

 

[Smolfarmcatlady]

Well my chicks left spokane again this afternoon, which doesn't even make sense. What were they doing all day? But the post office seemed confident that they should be here first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[Celticdragonfly]

We pick up the chicks tomorrow. And the coop build on site happens early May. I'm having some nerves - we're spending a lot of money on this, I hope we don't regret it!

 

[KSH1]

Mine arrived midday yesterday, before I got the tracking information lol. Glad I had given the PO a heads up! Everyone seemed active and bright, and ate and drank well. Lost one buckeye overnight, no idea why. Looked like she was sleeping. I'm still catching up with myself on other stuff but I'll start a new thread with pictures when I can.

 

[AngieMaesChix]

Have 13 chicks rn and looking for some quality silkies that shipping isn’t gonna kill me in cost lol..so hopefully soon I’ll have three more wanting two pullets and a cockerel white and or splash..anybody have any or know anyone please let me know!!! Also looking to get couple ducks here soon but rn just trying find these silkies lol

 

[danceswithronin]

We pick up the chicks tomorrow. And the coop build on site happens early May. I'm having some nerves - we're spending a lot of money on this, I hope we don't regret it!

I seriously doubt you will regret it, they are fantastic. I bought a flock last year for the first time with absolutely no experience handling birds at all because I never had birds as pets growing up (my mom has a phobia about them which she has actually really improved on since dealing with the chickens and seeing how cute/harmless they are). And I always lived in a suburb. So now I'm just raising chickens in the suburbs. *shrug*

We don't eat many eggs in my house, but even though we have to give the eggs away by the dozens my family enjoys the chickens so much, just watching them is a lot of fun while pottering in the garden, and guests who come over to barbeque are fascinated by them (doubly so if we serve something made out of them, like homemade devilled eggs). So even if you don't eat the eggs regularly they're still pretty fun.

 

[Smolfarmcatlady]

They're here and all 4 seem healthy. They're resting in their warm little cave now.