Best place to buy new chicks

[luvmychicknkids]

Alright, I am ready for new babies. I have found that, yes, I am capable of raising happy, healthy, chickens. My first ones are almost 6 months old, laying eggs, doing all the cute little things I suppose a chicken should do. I got those from (I really hope I am allowed to mention where? if not I will quickly edit this) My Pet Chicken and they were all so insanely beautiful and healthy. We lost one in shipping (out of 10 purchased) but that was because the post office actually lost my babies!!!! OMG! I was truly surprised any made it. Anyway, I was just about to place another order from them but I know my feed store gets babies in before too long. I have noticed that a lot of people on here buy chicks at their feed store so I just wanted to ask........does anyone see a difference in health/parisites/etc. when gettting them that way? For some reason I just have a fear that the feed store chicks might not be as healthy (perhaps not as "special" conditions etc.)?

 

[nccountrygirl]

Our feed store gets theirs from McMurray and Ideal and from what I've seen they are all healthy.

 

[petlove]

OUR FEED STORE HAS HEALTHY CHICKS ORDERED FROM A REPUTABLE HATCHERY. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PULLETS I WANT SO I DECIDED TO ORDER.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Ask your feed store when they are getting thiers, and what type. Most will tell you exactly which hatchery they order from. In fact some will order the type you want along with thiers. Just find out when they expect thier order to come in. They will be just as healthy as if you had ordered from a hatchery, and had sent to your door. I think the unhealthy reports of chicks at feed stores comes into play when they have been at the store for a while, and no one REALLY knows how to care for them. Just throw some food and water in with them.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Oh....that would be so cool if they would order the types I am wanting, too!!! I am really awful, but I like BEAUTIFUL chickens!! And beautiful eggs!!! However, no chicken anywhere beats my White Leghorn, Puff......she falls asleep with me holding her all the time and protests like crazy when I want to put her down (she is kind-of a mommy's girl). So, I have about decided looks aren't always where its at (though I do find her pure white feathers stunning)!!!! I will definitely check with my feed store and then decide. Thanks, guys.

 

[asher]

Quote:
You can find eggs of varying prices on the buy sell swap board here. Also www.eggbid.com and www.ebay.com. If you do not care so much about quality as just having some biddies and then egg layers, check in to "mutts" (mixed breeds) or possibly a local farm that has free range chickens with a roo. If you order on the internet, you'll have to pay shipping prices in addition to eggs.

A lot (but not all) chickens will stop laying in the Winter, but a lot will lay most of the year other than when they are molting.

Not sure what you mean about finding them at the park. Sorry!

OP ~ I got some chicks recently from a guy that buys the surplus from a hatchery and then I got some today from a feed store. Either way, they came from a hatchery. For quality, I buy from breeders that specialize in a particular breed. I never expect to get exceptional (or even good, if we're being honest) quality chicks from hatcheries, but I do expect healthy ones and normally have gotten just that. Sometimes the quality surprises me, too which is not.