can i order just one chick?

[azygous]

I'm interested in hearing the OP's rationale for wanting a single chick and what their plans are for it.

You absolutely cannot get a single chick through the mail for a number of very good reasons, one being a single chick likely wouldn't survive shipment.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Feed stores around me that sell chicks even require a minimum purchase of 3.

It will take a long time for chicks to be large enough to safely introduce to an existing flock so the bird will need friends its own age while it grows. Even a single mature bird may never get accepted into an established flock. Another good reason to give it friends.
As flock creatures, they never fare well alone.

 

[Soleil_A]

alright thank you everyone! i really just wanted one chick because i think it would be more work but what the heck is one more chicken? if i get chickens, i am in for lots of work. i have one isa brown and one rhode island white. winter time would be a bad time to get one correct?

 

[lazy gardener]

Absolutely. Do you have enough space for more chickens? A minimum of 4 s.f./bird in the coop?

 

[Soleil_A]

Absolutely. Do you have enough space for more chickens? A minimum of 4 s.f./bird in the coop?

yes and they do free range most of the days probably 4/7 days.

 

[dennisma1]

hello fellow chicken lovers!!



so I am planning on getting a chick in the spring, But I only want one. Would there be any hatchery that will only ship one that you know of? Maybe I would consider getting two. And which hatchery is the best one?



Also would I be able to introduce my one or two chicks to my three month old hen and my six or seven-month-old hen?


Thank you!

check out local farm stores. I think one chick would be lonely while hanging under the heat lamp. 2 would be better. Flock animals love their buddies. Alternately you can buy just one pullet. Shipping is expensive, but they will be bigger and can hold their own with your existing hens. I just introduced three pullets from mcmurrays to an older chicken who had outlived all her flock mates, and had no issues. (Other than the pullets being too dumb to go in the coop at night.) The old hen was nice to them. I didn't quarantine...the whole point was buddies for the old gal, I just put them and kept an eye on them. the old chicken wanted out to free range, but now she wants back in with the babies after an hour. much easier than I hoped.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
When an adult bird is alone, they are less likely to bother new birds because they miss having friends.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

No not unless its local and you can drive to it but my pet chicken and other ones don't ship just one

 

[Soleil_A]

alright thank you guys!

 

[dennisma1]

X2
When an adult bird is alone, they are less likely to bother new birds because they miss having friends.

yes..after her last buddy died she seemed heart broken..she would just stand in one place in her run and was real quiet.....she didn't even want to come out to free range. I put her in the house each night in a cage and she perked up with the company. . Now with her new buddies she is walking around a lot and very vocal. Found her cuddled up with one of the new babies last night on her perch. All good, and babies are healthy . Now I just need to get them to stop thinking I'm some scary monster.