If you do your research and know what to look for in an orpington, Craigslist might work for you. Also, maybe call a local feed store and ask if they know of anyone reputable who may have some for sale. There are a couple of hatcheries in the valley as well - just Google Phoenix hatchery.
Arizona Chickens
- Thread starter paynemom
- Start date
Couple newbie questions. I have found some alternate breed types that I'm considering. One person has 4-5 month old hens that are a mix of Red Star and aurcana. Another has "Novogen Brownies" that are just over 3 months old.
Is it possible to get some from each person and if so, would it be best to pick them up at the same time so that they are all introduced into their new home at the same time?
Second question: how does one transport this size chicken? I have a couple hard-sided pet carriers. Can a few go in one carrier?
Is it possible to get some from each person and if so, would it be best to pick them up at the same time so that they are all introduced into their new home at the same time?
Second question: how does one transport this size chicken? I have a couple hard-sided pet carriers. Can a few go in one carrier?
I don't see any advantage in buying from multiple people. You have to integrate as well as introduce to your site. Extra work and risk. Not to mention quarantine becomes a good idea to say the least, since they're from multiple sites. If you bring brand new birds in to your place, which hasn't had chickens, there'd be no quarantine if all are from the same place.
Novogen browns would be good. It's similar to ISA browns and sex links. They should lay fairly early, 18-23 weeks. Red star is a red sex link. The auraucana mixed into the sex link will possibly give blue or green or olive eggs, but possibly at the expense of productivity. Ask around to see how all of these ISA brown/novogen types do in our extreme heat, as some of them don't do so well, but I doubt any are as bad as the orpingtons or other heavy birds.
I'd pick them up with a pet crate. The plastic ones are better I think, in case they get spooked while being caught or transported. I use a 24 inch long crate for up to six birds if they're up to 3 months, given they're all over 3 months and bigger, that should hold about 4 birds. Just make sure they have air blowing on them during transport.
**ETA** even if you get them all from one person you might have some integration/pecking order to work out but should be minor. For example if you take 4 of the 8 birds from one location, where all 8 were a flock, your 4 will have to work out a new pecking order but it should be minor.
You might be able to tell at this age, it depends. The biggest issue is if you can’t tell because you’re a newbie and someone passes off an unwanted rooster to you on purpose. I’ve had that before. Wasn’t a pleasant thing.
Timbers Run
Chirping
New to BYC and planning to get a few laying chicks. I like New Hampshire reds. What are your favorite hatcheries online?
Hi and welcome!
I just got some chicks from Cackle hatchery. They arrived in two days and every one of them is a frisky little fluff ball. I did not order direct, though. Chickens for Backyards is a reseller for Cackle. You can order smaller quantities via CfB. Our first chicks were from Privett via our local feed store. They're doing great, too.
That's my very limited experience!
I just got some chicks from Cackle hatchery. They arrived in two days and every one of them is a frisky little fluff ball. I did not order direct, though. Chickens for Backyards is a reseller for Cackle. You can order smaller quantities via CfB. Our first chicks were from Privett via our local feed store. They're doing great, too.
That's my very limited experience!
I’ve ordered ducks only but California hatchery was great, very happy and healthy little fluff balls.
For heat tolerance, I'm very happy with Ideal, out of texas. BUT they're not for the feint of heart or for anyone fairly new to mail order at all. They arrived after 3 days not 2, because of the postal consolidation. And they forgot the heat pack I paid for. I had a trampled bird still alive so had to use the box as a hospital until it died over night, and another died the second night. both in spite of various efforts to put egg yolk into their beaks etc. Then of course due to the extra day of shipping, pasty butt ensued for several days, but none died of it or even really became critical from it.
So, I'd recommend Privetts out of New Mexico. I'd think they'll certainly arrive on day 2. I haven't used them in years, but their birds are at olsen's grain up where I'm at, and possibly in store at TSC.
But any mail order will have a minimum, so you'll need to be OK with culling males and selling extra females.
Not sure how the new hampshire reds do in our extreme heat also.
Best of luck, and welcome to BYC and the state thread!
Hello, and welcome! I hope that you find what you are looking for. The first batch of chick's that I ever got came from my local feed store, and they told me that they came from Privett's in New Mexico. At that time, I had ordered 8 Black Australorp's and 8 Buff Orpington's. One of the Buff's was a runt and had what looked to be a double wing. It didn't live long, but might have been crowded out by the others from the feed.
I no longer buy any chick's or chicken's now, as I have been either hatching from my own flock, or getting shipped egg's for hatching.
Last time I ordered was 2020 from Murray McMurray. In what part of AZ are you located? I ask because you might team up with someone nearby to split an order. It also depends how many you can have/want if there's a ordinance in your town/county on how many or no roosters, etc... or maybe your down the road from someone here who is hatching!
I think there are some hatcheries (like McMurray) that you can order as few as 6 as long as it's not during early spring or in late fall.
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