Feed Store/TSC v. Online Hatchery for Chicks

[imdamama]

I will be a first time chicken-mama this Spring. I would like input as to whether I'm better off getting chicks online or through my local feed/tractor supply kind of store. I don't know what the pros and cons are and I couldn't find a thread which covered the topic. Any thoughts?

I really appreciate all the fantastic information here at BYC and appreciate all of you who take the time to share you experience and knowledge. Y'all are the best resource around! =)

Thanks in advance!

(I apologize if there's a better place for this thread. This looked like the best fit.)

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Glad you joined.

Feed Store Pros. and Cons.

You pick the specific chick you want.
You get to see the chicks.
You don't have the risk of them dying during shipping.

Not as many options.

Hatcheries Pros. and Cons.

You can choose to get them vaccinated or not.
Lots of options.

You don't get to see the chicks.
You don't get to pick the specific chick you want.

 

[buddy phoenix]

looking for a golden phoenix hen. i recently bought a gollden phoenix hen to find out it was a game hen. would just like not to cross bred them.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

looking for a golden phoenix hen. i recently bought a gollden phoenix hen to find out it was a game hen. would just like not to cross bred them.

Try the "Buy Sell Trade" section of this forum.

 

[buddy phoenix]

ok thank you.

 

[goldfinches]

I will be a first time chicken-mama this Spring. I would like input as to whether I'm better off getting chicks online or through my local feed/tractor supply kind of store. I don't know what the pros and cons are and I couldn't find a thread which covered the topic. Any thoughts?

I really appreciate all the fantastic information here at BYC and appreciate all of you who take the time to share you experience and knowledge. Y'all are the best resource around! =)

Thanks in advance!

(I apologize if there's a better place for this thread. This looked like the best fit.)

I got 6 red stars from Tractor supply. They are all sweet girls and good layers. But, often, the birds at feed stores get mixed together, so unless you get them as they're unpacking them from shipment, you might get a different chick then you think!

Ordering online, you do get a much bigger selection, but you also may have some die during shipment and all you get is a refund, which is a big letdown when you only order s few chicks.

You can also check craigslist for chicks in the spring - around me, they're abundant.

 

[Azriel]

TSC get their chicks from a hatchery, my area its Ideal. Most of the time hatchery chicks are not great quality, but will be good layers, and if you get hatchery Ameraucana they will be EE's, not Ameraucana. I have gotten SLW from TSC, nice birds, pretty, and good layers. I also got what were labled as golden sex links, and they were production reds instead, nasty birds, pick on everyone, they were labled sexed females and half turned out to be males. With TSC you can pick out the ones you want and you know they are going to be alive when you get them home, ordering online, you might get a box of DOA in the mail. The other option as stated before is Craigslist or local newspaper, or check for breeders in your area on this site, log into your state thread and see if anyone will have chicks for sale in the spring, most will. Good Luck.

 

[imdamama]

Thank you so much, all! I appreciate the insight and the time you took to share it! =) We're actually going to mail order through Ideal (my hubby wants a couple ducks, too). Next on the list ... clearing a spot for a coop and run!

Thanks again! Happy New Year, all!