Chicks or Eggs

[Pruehito]

For starting with chicken raising, would it be better to hatch them or just get chicks?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Just getting chicks from a hatchery is easy for new poultry keepers.

 

[Shadowfire]

It's much easier to get chicks when first starting out; you can hatch your own later on. Good luck!

 

[red horse ranch]

I hatch my own chicks but I end up having to eat a lot of roosters. Incubating is a miracle process that I never get tired of watching. But it's mighty hard to take out good young roosters when you can't find homes for all of them.

Buying female chicks solves the problem of too many males. And the selection of so many breeds to choose from is a lot of fun.

It all depends on how many chickens you want and what your goals are.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Depends on what quality birds you want. If you want hatchery quality then Go ahead and get some chicks. But if you want heritage birds then you’ll have to buy hatching eggs from a good quality breeder. Good luck

 

[chickens really]

Many Hatcheries carry heritage breeds. Order chicks it is easier.

 

[lomine]

If you plan on hatching more eggs in the future than getting an incubator now may be worth it. But hatching eggs has no guarantees and it can be expensive. Shipped eggs can have problems. As already mentioned, you'll have to deal with extra cockerels and you'll likely only get one or two breeds.

If you are looking just for a layer flock I'd go with sexed chicks or started pullets.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Many Hatcheries carry heritage breeds. Order chicks it is easier.

Yes some hatcheries do, in my area they don’t. If you’re looking for show quality birds it’s best get your chicks/hatching eggs from a breeder and if you’re wanting good egg production and meat birds it’s best go with a hatchery.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

If it’s your first time raising chicks then it might be a bit easier to buy day olds, But I find the incubating process fun with all the candling and watching them hatch, And eggs are cheaper than chicks. Except the 3 weeks feels like 3 Months and the eggs might not hatch.

 

[chickens really]

Yes some hatcheries do, in my area they don’t. If you’re looking for show quality birds it’s best get your chicks/hatching eggs from a breeder and if you’re wanting good egg production and meat birds it’s best go with a hatchery.

Nothing was mentioned about show Birds...