BYC members in Massachusetts?

[windyridgefarm]

If you want to see chickens and all other kinds of poultry go to the free poultry show at the big E next weekend. It is held on Sat and Sunday but I would go on Sat as sadly they close early on Sunday around noon. They have a sales area and raffle for various items including chicks and breeding stock.

 

[windyridgefarm]

Anyone in Mass (Western preferably) with day olds? I've got a lone hatcher that needs some company

You could try the poultry show at the big E 14th and 15th. It is free and they have a sales area. Try to go Sat as they close early on Sunday around noon.

 

[Lynnski]

New here and looking to get my first chickens soon or this spring. Im in MA and wondering if anyone knew of anyone who would sell me a small batch of chicks. Im only looking for 4 to 8 chicks and would prefer a mixed flock. I can go to the big hatchery but would prefer to buy locally if I can manage it. Thanks

Hi MerryMouse... Welcome to BYC's! You will find SO much information here and SO many great people willing to answer any questions that come up!

Last May I found a local place which sold "day-old" chicks with a minimum quantity of 4, and we could mix with any breeds they had listed on the form! We only purchased 5.

Depending on where in MA you are, you may be surprised to find a local feed store that will do the same. We used Devine Feed: http://devinefeedandpet.com/new-page-68/ They start taking orders in February! They are a sister store of Hanson Feed, here is a link to their 2016 order list of breeds available: http://assets.newmediaretailer.com/tasks/25199/updated-chick-2016.pdf They had a breed description pdf as well: http://assets.newmediaretailer.com/259000/259562/hanson-chicken-back-page-hg.pdf

They state on the form that they use a farm that has a 90% F sexing rate. Of the 5, one was a male. Our friend who got 8 at the same time, had one male out of 8.

Call around, maybe even be willing to travel a bit..... you will need a local place to get all the "chicken essentials" anyway!

Good luck in this new adventure, keep us posted on what you find in youe area and how things are going!

 

[windyridgefarm]

Hi MerryMouse... Welcome to BYC's! You will find SO much information here and SO many great people willing to answer any questions that come up!

Last May I found a local place which sold "day-old" chicks with a minimum quantity of 4, and we could mix with any breeds they had listed on the form! We only purchased 5.

Depending on where in MA you are, you may be surprised to find a local feed store that will do the same. We used Devine Feed: http://devinefeedandpet.com/new-page-68/ They start taking orders in February! They are a sister store of Hanson Feed, here is a link to their 2016 order list of breeds available: http://assets.newmediaretailer.com/tasks/25199/updated-chick-2016.pdf They had a breed description pdf as well: http://assets.newmediaretailer.com/259000/259562/hanson-chicken-back-page-hg.pdf

They state on the form that they use a farm that has a 90% F sexing rate. Of the 5, one was a male. Our friend who got 8 at the same time, had one male out of 8.

Call around, maybe even be willing to travel a bit..... you will need a local place to get all the "chicken essentials" anyway!

Good luck in this new adventure, keep us posted on what you find in your area and how things are going!

Interesting my local Tractor Supply always said six was the minimum by state law, up to a certain number of weeks old. For ducks they said twenty something? until after a certain date? From what I was told it is to discourage people from buying chicks/ducklings as pets for Easter when they are cute and fluffy then dumping them.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Interesting my local Tractor Supply always said six was the minimum by state law, up to a certain number or weeks old. For ducks they said twenty something? until after a certain date? From what I was told it is to discourage people from buying chicks/ducklings as pets for Easter when they are cute and fluffy then dumping them. 

I think that might possibly be company policy? Cause some local places here the minimum is 3 i think

 

[windyridgefarm]

I think that might possibly be company policy? Cause some local places here the minimum is 3 i think

Or it could be that they have stores in many states and that is the law in one of them so became policy. Would be good to know the truth of it if anyone knows for sure.

 

[dcba flock]

Or it could be that they have stores in many states and that is the law in one of them so became policy. Would be good to know the truth of it if anyone knows for sure.

It is the state law in NY I had posted chicks on CL a while ago and had some person message me w/ a copy of the law lol... So that's the case here at least for stores and private sales if ppl are monitoring.... It is better to have around 5-6 only 2 one dies then it's alone idk how they decided on 6 but that's not an unreasonable amount (says crazy chicken lady w/ math issues)

 

[ShrekDawg]

Or it could be that they have stores in many states and that is the law in one of them so became policy. Would be good to know the truth of it if anyone knows for sure.

Yeah that makes sense and it's probably easier to just have it the same in all stores rather than change by states

It is the state law in NY I had posted chicks on CL a while ago and had some person message me w/ a copy of the law lol... So that's the case here at least for stores and private sales if ppl are monitoring.... It is better to have around 5-6 only 2 one dies then it's alone idk how they decided on 6 but that's not an unreasonable amount (says crazy chicken lady w/ math issues)

That makes sense but wow that was so petty of the person lol but i guess it's good you know the law now at least aha but you're right, better to get more in cass they die. I use a heating pad though rather than heat lamp and had almost none die. Of course it was my first time having chicks but still. And the only death was my fault. They should have been in the garage or outside but were inside for 3 weeks, which isn't a problem by itself, except that my mom kept turning the heat in the room they in up very high and rhe heating pad was up all the way so she got too hot and got pasty butt and died. Learning curve with first chicks I guess but better than a lot of first experiences i guess. Anyway, the law in some cities is 6 too (though some it's 4) so it makes sense they would do that

 

[ShrekDawg]

That said, i plan on adding more lol

 

[windyridgefarm]

It is the state law in NY I had posted chicks on CL a while ago and had some person message me w/ a copy of the law lol... So that's the case here at least for stores and private sales if ppl are monitoring.... It is better to have around 5-6 only 2 one dies then it's alone idk how they decided on 6 but that's not an unreasonable amount (says crazy chicken lady w/ math issues)

I hear you, it is reasonable unless you are already in chicken math territory and overrun with chicks of your own. Last season I tried to get some California Grey chicks from a feed store to make some sex link crosses . Had to order six, lucky for me, I called to see if my order was in I asked to make sure before going 45 min to get them. Privett hatchery had substituted bared rocks on me, after the order was already a couple weeks late and last one of the season. Going to try again this year but also have to try getting out of the sixties plus back into the twenties lol.