Best way to acquire diverse small flock?

[AZKat]

You could order from My Pet Chicken. The shipping is a bit pricey, but I they have most of the breeds you list, although their marans are cuckoo rather than black copper. I ordered from them, and have been very happy so far.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I believe Ideal will ship just a few birds. Their minimum is $25.00, not a specific number of birds. They will ship packing peanuts, however. They do not have the BCM but you might look at the Welsummer as a dark egg layer instead if you don't like the Cuckoo Maran. Also, they advertise their blue/green egg layers as Ameraucana, which would probaly work for you. They may be EE's anyway. Many hatcheries do not get that right.

My Pet Chicken also offers Welsummers.

If the Welsummer is an acceptable substitution, you can either order through My Pet Chicken or Ideal, but advertise on here first to see if anyone in your area would take any extra chicks that get shipped. You can talk to My Pet Chicken, but I'd suspect in your area that their real minimum order is 8 chicks. I have not dealt with Ideal but I'd suspect you will not know how many you will actually get from them until they arrive. Just have them mark the chicks you order so you know which four chicks to keep and find someone in your area that will take free chicks regardless of number and breed before you order. If you are covering all purchasing and shipping costs, it should be possible.

I'd also be very tempted to order two of everything you want. Just have the agreement with whoever you are giving the free chicks to that if something happens to one of yours or if it actually turns out to be a rooster, you can get one back. And if you order through My Pet Chicken, two of each breed is eight, so whoever you are splitting the order with would know exactly what they are getting.

Just a couple of thoughts. Goodluck!

 

[Mahonri]

You'll want more chickens.

That wonderful little coop can eventually be used for isolation or breeding....

Then you can build a bigger coop...

 

[Chickenmaven]

I would recommend getting chicks, either from MPC or a local feed store. If you go with the latter option, see if they will call you when the chicks arrive. I have seen customers at the feed store playing with chicks & putting them back - into the wrong pens. Since you're new to this, I would hate for you to pull 2 bantams, a meatie and a "straight run" (rooster) out of a pullet pen. It could happen.
I would advise against swap meets or auctions. Read the illness threads, here on BYC. It is pretty easy to figure out why they say "all in, all out." (Buy the birds you want, all from one source. Don't add). If you add birds willy-nilly, you can get illnesses. Some of us do take that chance...

Good luck to you with your little flock. You have obviously put alot of thought into this.

 

[patandchickens]

What they said about swaps and auctions. It is fun but you may get to know a lot more than you expected about chicken health care, which local vets treat chickens, and methods of euthanasia. Not just for the one you brung home but for the others who catch stuff from it.

Plus, every time you add a new chicken or two to the flock, all sorts of dinosaur-era Social Interactions go on, using beaks, often rather vigorously and distressingly and sometimes for a long time.

It is really a lot simpler and more peaceful to get them all at once, IMHO.

If you want marans or dark eggs, be aware that hatchery birds are quite likely NOT to lay a dark egg. Even birds from a breeder may not do so consistantly (it takes constant hatching-out of large numbers of chicks and culling down to only the darkest layers to keep a line laying reasonably dark eggs). Not trying to discourage you from BCM (or other marans, or welsumers, or anything else like that), just want to make sure you realize this fact.

Personally, in your shoes I think I would order from My Pet Chicken since they have the breeds you want, get a couple few of each breed (and/or combine orders with someone else in your area) and sell the extras. This way also ensures you DO get a pullet of each breed - remember that "guarantee" is only 90-95% and is only a pledge to refund your purchase money if you have too high a %ge of cockerels, it is NOT a literal guarantee that if you order a pullet chick it will definitely for sure be a pullet.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Some feedstores will order breeds upon request with thier large orders. Also, around here I have seen people get great results by posting an ad on craigs list. Example: Wanted 2-4 people to share an order of chicks from a hatchery. Breeds to be orderered include (whatever you want to order) & other breeds could be added as well. Chicks cost $ each, & you will be responsible for 25% of the shipping. Contact if interested.

Try it!!!! Good luck!!!!

 

[bibliophile birds]

yeah, Ideal's Ameraucanas are EEs. i didn't know that when i ordered. but it's worked out because i got some GORGEOUS birds.

i've also got GL Wyandottes and Buff Orps. i love love love my Orps. they are almost as cuddly as my Silkies! be aware that lacing on hatchery birds can vary wildly, so the image you have of those Wyandottes might not be exactly what they turn out as. again, i was surprised, but think mine are beautiful anyway. they have a lot more black lace than i anticipated, but they are very pretty.

one of the major benefits of going with the feed store is that they will usually absorb the problem of chicks that die en route. if these are mostly for your kids, that can be a good thing. i lost 2 (out of 24) in shipping and Ideal was wonderful about refunding the money for them, almost no questions asked, but if i'd had kids, 2 dead chickies on day 1 probably wouldn't have been fun.

welcome and good luck! get ready to want 100!

 

[chookchick]

Quote:
Exactly what I was thinking! (or for young chicks). Great starter coop....

 

[mom'sfolly]

I want to repeat what some one else said. Talk to your folks at the feed store. Many feedstores will add special items to their orders. My feed store certainly does. I think if I wanted a couple of welsommer chicks, they would add 25 to their order and sell the rest. But....I live 50 miles from Ideal and my feed store sells chicks year round. It's worth asking, and you don't pay the shipping costs.

And you will want more....just saying.