California - Northern

[AnonAMauze]

If I wanted hatchery chicks, I'd go to my local feedstore. They buy in large quanities from the hatcheries and our's is pretty good about ordering lots of rarer breeds.

Otherwise, if you have to order on your own and don't mind the minimum number, McMurray's is probably as good as any. They also give very good service. I've ordered supplies from then several times. They frequently give free shipping on dry goods.

Deb

I don't mind ordering a minimum, actually I'd planned on ordering 36, mixed breeds: 6 Rhode Island Red hens, 6 Speckled Sussex, 6 Jersey Giants, 6 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 6 Dark Brahmas, and 6 Silver Penciled Rocks, and one Phoenix Roo. I just love those tails! The RIR hens are for my grandmother, who loves them because they are such good layers. I think I've got a good mix there, strong layers with good size for butchering later.

 

[zooweemama]

I don't understand what you mean by a PITA case.

PITA doesn't want anyone to own any animals for any reason. Sorry, I can't say more on the issue, I believe it would violate the rules of the forum.

Deb

PITA is short for pain in the a** Not the org.

 

[zooweemama]

is it now? what's on sale? feed by chance?

I don't know- I should call! They don't carry my duck feed. Booo. But I know she said they will be having a sale on layer pellets I thought?

 

[zooweemama]

I know most of you don't get your eggs from a hatchery. That being said, which one of the commercial hatcheries is the best to buy from? I've looked at quite a few and found the best selection to be at McMurray hatchery. They also seem to have the best prices, which is good because I have a limited amount of funds to purchase my starter chicks next spring.

Have you tried a local feedstore? Most of ours will order for you- saves you on shipping and having a minimum order sometimes!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: No apology needed! I misread these post way too much.

Interesting case however. There is a law and ordinance thread here. Sorry to have not recommended it to hansolo.

People there can help you with fighting the ordinance.

Ron

 

[AnonAMauze]

Have you tried a local feedstore? Most of ours will order for you- saves you on shipping and having a minimum order sometimes!

Yes, that's where i got my chicks this year. The selection wasn't all that great, and the prices were pretty high. I'd wanted barred rocks and RIR, but they had neither. So i wound up getting Buff Orps, Americanas and 1 RIR.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: McMurray killed my chicks...So sad.

If you order from them, get the tracking number and call your local post office to find out when they get to your distribution center and pick them up from there.

The order I shared with capayvalleychick hatched on friday afternoon, shipped to SanFrancisco and sat until midnight Sunday. Shipped to Woodland and arrived there at 4 am. I was called at 8:30 and picked up a package with half dead chicks. Then half of the live chicks died within three days. I did get a refund after this order.

I was told it was my fault because I did not drive to SF and pick up the chicks on Saturday. USPS shipping of Animals says not to ship over the weekend.

You can order as few as 5 chicks from Cackle. They ship on Monday and you get the chicks on Wednesday. They have very nice chickens too.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

Yes, that's where i got my chicks this year. The selection wasn't all that great, and the prices were pretty high. I'd wanted barred rocks and RIR, but they had neither. So i wound up getting Buff Orps, Americanas and 1 RIR.

Oh? One of our local places orders directly from Ideal. The prices weren't all that bad. I am sure everyone does it differently though. My Pet Chicken usually has a great selection and a lower minimum order requirement. They do charge more and they are more of a hub- as they mostly do not sell their own chicks but from other hatcheries. If you want to get a large amount- I have not heard many complaints about McMurray though- so I don't think you can go wrong there! (eta- just read Rons. lol. I DO find it off that their shipping days are SO 'wrong'. Seems best to hatch on Sundays and Ship Mondays or something you know?)

 

[hansolo]

Sorry for the confusion.
I was looking everywhere online for help and found the bee hive story.
Basically it seems like somebody complained to the city, then police sent out warning note about permit, person file application for permit, then a noticed was sent to immediate neighbors for objections, application was denied because of neighbor concerns.
I wonder if the process will be similar for us except we have no bee hives. There probably will be inspections and such.
I am just looking everywhere to see if other people in my city or the bayarea have dealt with similar cases and what we can do to prepare.

Thanks.

Han

 

[hansolo]

We have talked to 3 sides of our neighbors. 2 sides have said chickens didnt bother them at all. 1 side, which is closest to the coop had expressed that our house's previous owners chickens (they had two) were noisy but they never talked to us directly about our chickens. There is one other neighbor who we dun directly share fence but they are close enough to hear the chickens too. We are going to talk to them soon, before we file the application.

Our chickens ARE loud, particularly around 8:30a-9am, when they know my husband is about to go out feed them treats (whole grain feed). They are also noisy around the evenings around 4:30-6p when we are about to arrive home. We had chickens for 1.5 years as pets and for eggs. As far as I can see, the chickens are actually pretty attached to humans (since we dun have a roo?). They tend to make noise for attention. Sometimes they make noise when people walk their dogs nearby, sometimes it is about egg laying, who gets to which nesting box. These are just my theories.

We have a fairly big coop built for the girls, and they are confined in our side yard, with trees, dirt, bushes. We dun have a run. The side yard is right next to the one neighbor. I can see this might be a problem with the chickens too close to their property.

Good news is Fremont law allows 2 chickens without applying for any permits, so at least two are safe. I dun see how 4 is much worse than two though. They are social animals anyway.