buying chickens online

[Doodle_Doo]

I buy from ideal..great costumer service large selection of chickens standard and bantam rare and commons low prices and low shipping..I have ordered 5 times 10 birds and order and I've payed between 22 to 27 dollars depending on the breed..and always include like 6 to 8 free chicks for warmth always males but sometimes throw in surprice females..ideal-poultry.com is great best choice for me so far..

 

[sonjab314]

Hey Wayne and

. If you are only wanting a few chicks, I would check around your area first to see if there are any breeders. Shipping chicks is very expensive. Sometimes, farm stores like Tractor Supply will have chicks in the spring. Also check Craigslist in your area. There are a lot of people on there selling chicks and full grown hens but beware buying full grown. They are usually trying to sell off their old hens that are not that productive anymore. As far a breed recommendation, if all you want are eggs, I'd stick with production layers like Cinnamon Queens, Isa Browns or any red or black sex linked chicks. That is what they were designed to do is lay lots of eggs. If you are wanting to stay with a more pure breed I recommend wyandottes, black australorp, barred rocks, new hampshire reds, rhode island reds or leghorns. Or if you want a colorful egg basket, get a few Easter Eggers. They mainly lay green and blue eggs and they are pretty birds too. Please feel free to ask us anything that you need to know and remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question. We all had to learn too.

I also wanted to add that the earlier you get your birds, the sooner they are to start laying. I got some last April and they just started laying this past week. If you are a handy man, I'd get the chicks and put them in a brooder and then build your coop. You wouldn't need a huge coop for 2-3 hens. If you are not so handy (like me) I'd build the coop first and then get the chicks.

 

[dsqard]

You could also check with your local feed stores. Many of them will have chicks in the spring. You could contact them and find out either when they might have chicks and what breeds or sometimes they will let you add on to their order. Saves you shipping cost and you don't have to worry about the chicks sittting at the post office or in a truck all day. I would do a little research and find out what types of chickens do well where you live. Some are better for colder climates and some are better for warmer climates. Don't feel embarrassed about asking questions either since most of us have asked the same questions. I just started raising chickens last year and before I got any, I thought all of my neighbor's leghorns were roosters since they all had big combs! I also thought one of their hens was getting ready to attack me when she was actually just doing the egg squat which is actually a sign of submission! We have all thought funny things!

 

[mons02035]

One problem with buying chicks from the feed store is that they are not sexed. Or am I wrong? I bought mine from mypetchickens.com. The reason I did was because they sell as little as 3. They sex them (for an extra small cost) and they do not put filler chicks in. They use males for fillers and I did not want to deal with getting males. So I ended up paying about 10 bucks a chick, shipped to my door and merecks vaccinated. i bought them in September so that it would be cooler for them while getting shipped, even though they want 90 degree temps. So far they lay very good and are also in good health. I am happy with the choice I made and will do it again probably next year.

 

[dsqard]

They can be sexed at the feed store (meaning that they arrive sexed), the only problem is you can't be sure if people have moved the chicks around to different bins.
ETA - if you add to their order, I wonder if they would keep them separate for you at the store until you pick them up? I don't know, I haven't bought chicks at a feed store before but I have seen them there.

 

[gryeyes]

Well, some feed stores will have sexed chicks, I know my favorite one does. They have multiple big horse troughs full, separate ones for certain breeds and by sex. The mix breeds that don't look alike, like light brahma males with rhode island red males, and bins of "hen" chicks, too. I was very lucky and only got one mis-sexed chick in 12.

And he is now my dominant rooster!

 

[galanie]

I know that Dominique will do well in our southern heat. I don't know anything about the other breeds you mentioned.

 

[Hottchick]

I am wary of feed store sexing. My first 7 "pullets" came from Tractor supply and 4 of the 7 turned out to be roosters and had to be rehomed. I have since gotten 7 more from a breeder and all were really pullets.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Quote:
I am also new to chickens this year and have learned much from this forum. Do your homework first and use the learning tools on this forum. Use the breed index to learn more about the breeds you are interested in and the breed selection tool to figure out what kind of chickens would work best for what you want them for. You need to select a breed that will do well in your region. I have heavy breeds meant for cold weather and they have certainly proved it! However, in the heat wave this summer I almost lost a couple due to the heat. You are starting small so a small coop or tractor would probably work for your needs now. Look on the coop index and find something you like. Keep it simple. Check craigslist and recycle places for free or cheap materials for building. We got chicks from our local Agway and they are fine. If you can buy locally, do so. I have plymouth rocks and wyandottes and they are nice girls who give me nice eggs. You mention Java's I think and those would have to be ordered. I have done a lot of research on this breed and would recommend the Java club website for reading up on this breed. I will be starting a flock of them in the spring myself and will order from a breeder for the best quality I can get.

IMHO, you should start with the 2-3 chickens from a local place and see how you like it. If it works out and you want more, look at the many breeds out there and decide where you want to go from there. Just remember, it becomes addictive and chicken math will catch up to you!! Oh==and there are no dumb questions here! People here are really nice and helpful.

 

[Heckel's Hens]

Good luck to you! I am just starting out as well, and my chicks are 6 weeks old today. I got them from Ideal Poultry, and they all arrived in perfect condition and none have had any problems. I DID get extra roosters that I wasn't expecting, but I guess you can specifically request for them not to inbclude extras.