Best place to buy chicks?

[savilcr]

what is the best place/website to order baby chicks?

Mcmurray
Tractor Supply (no shipping cost)

 

[Daphne16]

I am getting mine from a chickie mama on here, Beth G she is local to me and is great to work with. She taught me a lot and is so nice.
If you post what you are looking for in the Where are you forum you will probably find someone on here local to you that is knowledgable and has chickies for sale.
Just my $0.02

 

[suzeqf]

i've gotten several from Bucheits and TSC and a breeder I haven't had any shipping and the selection at most places around here isn't as good as it was earlier in March and April I also wanted to say the chicks I got from the breeder have done awesome and I can tell a diference between them and the ones I got from the feed stores

 

[egg_tastic]

I found a local hatchery that was reputable. That way I didn't have a minimum amount of chicks to order, and no s&h. The chicks I have are super healthy and active. I am thrilled.

 

[buffs only]

I got my 32 buff orps from McMurray two weeks ago today and they all are doing great. Thing is you might have to wait awhile for the breed you want to become avaliable, when I ordered Buff orps in was like three weeks before they were going to have any hens. The weekend before they arrived I went to TSC for feeders and waterers and saw they had chicks for sale and they looked good. Your choice, but the McMurray chicks were great, shipped out on Sunday afternoon and were at my local post office at 7:30 Monday morning ( less than 15 hours total ship time ) Best of luck on whatever you decide.

Buffs only- Conyers GA

 

[debid]

Many of the mail-order hatcheries have slim pickings and/or long waits this time of year. Unless you're flexible on breed selection, you might have trouble getting what you want before the summer heat hits.

I went with a local provider -- no shipping stress, no minimums, and no time in a public display bin plus reasonable prices and great interaction/willingness to answer questions. While conducting my research, I also found a few breeders here on BYC that are local to me and I will very likely get birds from them in the future.

You could also check out places like Craigslist since lots of small-time local providers will advertise there.

I'm not a huge fan of TSC because of the conditions I've seen locally. That doesn't mean the store near you is so badly mismanaged, it's just the stuff I've witnessed during my few visits that makes me not want to buy chicks there.

 

[TexasLady]

Frankly, I would absolutely buy from Cackle Hatchery. They have always sent me wonderful, healthy chicks. But they have more show quality birds that they send out than any other hatchery. If you want pretty birds, order from them.

Now on the other hand, I have gotten some good laying birds from McMurray/Ideal. I ordered some wonderful Silver Pencil Rocks from them, and I love that color of Plymouth Rocks. I just think they're very special. They have decent birds in this color.

But from Ideal (which I understands sells to McMurray), I got some incredible laying Gold Laced Wyandottes from them. Oh my! I get an egg every day from them, and they're still laying every day! The only thing I do not like about them is that two of them became egg eaters (along with one Spitz hen). Those were moved, and they quit laying. (I wonder now if quitting had something to do with them being short on protein or something. I was disgusted with them. I dislike egg eaters.) But all that being said, the three that did not eat eggs are amazing birds--an egg a day. I would highly recommend Wyandottes from Ideal because theirs are really good birds. I have enjoyed them also because I think they're very pretty.

I've ordered chicks from other hatcheries, and they are all okay. I have also gotten birds from Tractor Supply, and they are usually a little older, and they are healthier because the sick ones usually don't make it in the first few days. They are more money however, but if you want only a few (less than ten), you're probably better off buying from them because shipping is expensive. I usually buy 25 straight run, and sell the males at the auction. If I get all pullets, I will sell the ones I don't want at the auction too. If you order from Tractor Supply, they can get particular breeds for you. But you still pay shipping because they add it on to the price of the chicks.

I have kept quite a few breeds over time, and for layers, I like Orpingtons and Wyandottes (now). Ameraucanas are pretty good as well as Plymouth Rocks (with the Barred seeming the best for me). The best all around birds are the Orpingtons, but they do eat a lot. We have not eaten any Wyandottes. It is extremely hard for me to kill birds I used for laying, so I usually sell them when they decide not to lay anymore.