By mail or by local feed store?!

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

Ok so I was wondering if I should get chickens from my local feed store or by mail, I already know I should never get chicks from TCS, but I want expert opinion!

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[HuskerHens18]

I'm no expert, but whenever I've gotten chicks by mail, I've never had any problems then there's a wider variety of what you can get!

 

[Polish Hen House]

It depends on what you want. Buying from a store or local breeder is always the best, but it is hard to determine sex the chickens before you buy them if you get them from a store. I bought my chickens online from Mypetchicken, and they arrived healthy and happy. It also depends on the quantity you want. Most store have a minimum number of chicks you have to buy. So ultimately it is up to the buyer to do their research and choose the best option for them.

 

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

ok thanks to all!

 

[adstowe]

The chicks at your feed store were no doubt ordered from a hatchery. It's nice to be able to pick out individual chicks in person and be able to choose ones that appear to be thriving, but if you order them on your own you can pick from a huge variety of breeds vs the few, usually basic breeds the store chose to order. It just comes down to what works for you. I've used a couple of hatcheries and had good luck. I like Meyer. They use a heating pad on their small orders instead of throwing in extra cockerel chicks for added body heat (a common practice)

 

[Western North Carolina]

I found welp had best pricing and best variety. My pet chicken is just a dropshipper, not an actual hatchery, or maybe I'm mistaken. Lots of dropshippers out there. I was going to order from Murray mcmurray, but then realized welp had the breeds I wanted and was way cheaper. Online, they also will vaccinate for you if you choose.

 

[adstowe]

Welp has a minimum of 25 chicks. I have no idea how many the OP wants, but it's worth mentioning.

 

[Ra_]

if you order them on your own you can pick from a huge variety of breeds vs the few

Are the birds trucked to the feed stores from the hatcheries, or mailed?
USPS Express service seems to be deteriorating over the years. They now classify both Priority AND Express as a "1 to 3 Day" service. Tracking is worse than ever. The shipments usually go into some kind of limbo for at least 36 hours after flying out of the State hub. I now glue an extra layer of cardboard to the shipping box & hang enough moisture-laden food in there to keep birds alive for many days. I hate the thought of newborn chicks stuck in a box for 3 or 4 days without food or water. Even if they survive, they may be adversely affected.
That's how it is here in Florida. Your mileage may vary.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I personally don't want to open up a box and see a batch of dead or dying chicks, so I'll let the local feed store take that risk instead. Also I don't ever plan on getting more than 3 or 4 chicks at a time, so I don't mind going with whatever selection my feed store has to offer. At least they're good about announcing in advance what dates they'll get chicks and what breeds, so I can plan ahead looking at that.

 

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

I personally don't want to open up a box and see a batch of dead or dying chicks