Are baby chicks my only options?

[newbiechicken]

I've had great luck buying pullets from breeders on craigslist. Two years ago I did spring for some juvenile hens from McMurray Hatchery and we've been VERY pleased with them. They arrived in great shape and are fantastic layers. Expensive, but nice to get pullets that started laying right away.

 

[pkw]

I prefer starting with baby chicks myself.

 

[ginormous chicken]

You can buy adult hens and roosters from county fairs and 4H auctions. One of my feed store sells adults ( albeit really not so good ones.) I have also taken adults off of breeders hands when they have all too many chickens. ( You know the chicken math thing

!) Not show quality but still really healthy good chickens. Also, people move and need to rehome their entire flocks. I have seen in on CL. Those are some of my ideas.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Agreed with emphasis.

I was going to post exactly same thoughts, but you beat me to it.

For a newbee the best and safest choice is hatch or buy hatchlings from feedstore or hatchery.

Patience is necessary in most endavours, especially in business or hobby of raising animals (birds).

 

[ajacskr]

I have gone through Craigslist, the fleamarket, and indaviduals. I have had good luck and bad luck from ALL. So many people are not honest about what they have and its a shame to tell a lie just to sell a chicken. That is one thing I REFUSE to do, lie to just sell a chicken. Right now I have about 120 birds and have finally started to get them straightened out.

Most I have bought in the past have been barn yard mixes. They are ok for someone who just wants a few eggs but are awful when trying to sell for breeding purposes.

I also have intentionaly purchased older birds (1-1/2 to 2 years) to get a start on eggs for hatching. I do this when day olds sell for over $5 apiece. It is an inexpensive way to get a start.

If you can find someone that is truthful (like most of the BYCers) then a couple of older birds would be ok. I always seem to be impatient for the eggs with little ones. It seems like years before day olds start laying.

This is just the advice from a newbie thats learned a lot of hard lessons in the 2 years I have had chickens.

 

[chickengrl]

Quote:
I would stay FAR, FAR away from auctions, swaps, and craigslist. I am not saying these folks are bad, but many are selling sick chickens, some may even be unaware of the illness. Also, they can look perfectly healthy and still be a carrier and pass it to your birds. So, you might be thinking "what's so bad if I happen to get some sick chickens" "I can take them to the vet and get them medications and i will make them well again" Unfortunately, avian vets are few and far between and even worse many chicken illnesses may improve, but leave you with a chicken who can pass the disease to others as a carrier. So now you may have to cull your whole flock or come to terms that you can't ever add another chicken without getting the new one sick. You also shouldn't sell or trade with anyone either. Kinda takes the fun out of keeping chickens. That's just my humble opinion. Personally, i would like to skip all that heartbreak. Get one day old chicks from a reputable breeder or hatchery and enjoy raising them and hopefully never having to see the birds you love die from a horrible illness. I am currently watching my favorite birds dying from something we must have brought home from a swap or craigs list. We will probably end up having to cull them soon. Please listen to the more experienced folks on this forum and save yourself some heartache.