Buying fertile eggs vs. buying day old chicks?

[TcherDawn]

I went to mypetchicken and I do not live withing 30 minutes of a major city here in central nh, so I would have to order 8 minimum, which would overrun my chick-n-hutch.

 

[DutchChicky]

try going on www.Craigslist and look for somebody who offers eggs or hatchlings, or post yourself that you are looking.
If your out in the country, the're probably a lot of people around you who have chickens and a rooster. They might want to sell you hatchlings just a few at the time. There's also a very small bator for just 3 eggs , might be an option. GOOGLE!!
The hatching yourself is definitly worth it for the kids!
I have a 3 year old and last year was my first year and she loved the whole procces. My friends kids come all over and love it, just spend a lot of time on BYC and you will learn a ton,do lot's of searching in the Forums.
I also got the 'BUG' first bought 4 chickens at the local auction house (check with feedstores), a month later bought a Bantam rooster and hen. Not to long after some of the hen's becam 'broody' and let them sit on some eggs. Couldn't see what was going on , LOL so bought an incubator!!! The roosters I sold to private people and at the auction.
Now I'm on my first full bator for the year, what I can't keep myself figure , that there will be people (like you) who want some.
Good luck with whatever you chosse! just keep your options open.
Yes the bug is going to get you too, better believe it

 

[maybejoey]

I have hatched my own and bought some from the feed store. But I think that hatching your own is the only way to go any more. When you hatch your own once they hatch then you have this sense of acomplishment. Incubators are a bit pricy but are a lot more fun. Just hatched 12 out of 12 on my little giant.

 

[chickgrowerdan]

If you decide to buy from Meyer, I absolutely recommend their Dominiques and Buff Orpingtons. Both have been good layers and great 'lap chickens' in my experience.

 

[jm93030]

Personally I consider day old chicks cheaper than hatching eggs.

You must add some numbers before you choose.

1- Cost of Incubator
2-Cost of Brooder
3-Cost of electricity (yes you may noticed little increase here on your bill)
4-Cost of eggs (the worst part is shipping)
If you are going to buy all this items for one time use only may not be worth

Also remember that there is no warranty on shipped eggs.

they may or not hatch

When I started to hatch eggs I spend lot of money for few chicks

Than I decided to go for day old chicks

got them sexed females and added only 1 or 2 roos

that worked nice for me

after that the hens did the hatching and brooding

I am not in to show birds at any fair , but I am happy with the quality of some hatcheries
Belt, Mc Murray , cackle, Ideal and welp


Remember do the numbers first

I dont recomend trying to get birds form expensive breeders

I see eggs on ebay going over 100 dls only because they are form Bev Davis Blood

thats crazy hatcheries have nice decent birds

 

[WFA]

whew! I thought I was the only one going through "which comes first the day old chick or the egg"

I am trying to figure out the same issue. I was ready to pull the trigger on an incubator then the Mrs. wasn't keen on this. She is worried about all the roos and what we would do with them.

 

[jm93030]

Quote:
Thats a big issue

sometime is hard to find homes for roos

even for free not many people wants them

 

[jm93030]

I like ordering from ideal pultry their minimum is only 25 dollars not chicks,that gives you room for less than 10 birds and very reasonable shipping rates and you dont need to order 5 from each breed minimum , no way , also they dont do stupid extra charges for minimum this minimum that.

 

[Tiss]

I really just hatch to appease my broodies. And they do most the work. To me it's the easiest way to add to the flock.

As for starting a new flock, chicks are the way to go.