Hatchery

[abbygibson1212]

I want to order some chicks, but I'm having trouble finding a hatchery that carries all of the kinds that I want. I'm wanting to get Black Copper Maran, Blue Ameraucana, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Olive Egger, Lavender Orpington, and Red Laced Black Wyandotte and I need them to be sexed. Does anyone know a hatchery that carries all of these?

I'm also needing to get guineas so itd be a plus if they had those too.

Thanks!

 

[lazy gardener]

Often hatcheries sell out of certain breeds very early in the season. It won't help you this year, but next year, you can place your order for the breeds you want as soon as they start accepting orders, and choose your shipping date at the same time. You'll just have to hunt around. I don't think you're going to find a lot of these breeds unless you order from a breeder, and most breeders only specialize in only 1 or 2 breeds.

 

[abbygibson1212]

@lazy gardener I thought this was early in the season

When is the best time to look? and how do I go about finding breeders?

 

[lazy gardener]

Early in the season is just as soon as hatcheries start taking orders. You can lock your order in then, and have it shipped during a convenient week later in the season. Go to the threads set up for the breeds you are looking for. Ask there. You're at a bio-security risk if you start bringing in birds from multiple sources. Best to find a good hatchery or breeder, and adjust your breeds to match their availability. There's always next year, and the year after. Don't let yourself get so hung up on a specific breed. A hen that looks great on paper, may not actually be your favorite hen. Case in point: I allowed one Pioneer to stay from my meat flock this summer. She's turned out to be my most reliable layer. I never would have chosen a Pioneer meat bird for a layer.

 

[dheltzel]

Look for local breeders, not just big hatcheries. Craigslist is a good starting point, and your state message thread here on BYC (under social - where am I, where are you).

I could give you lots of recommendations if you are in SE PA, but I don't know the breeders in other parts of the country as well.

 

[song of joy]

Meyer Hatchery carries all of those breeds, but as most of them are pretty rare, they may be sold out until later in the season (mid-summer). Check their website for availability.

 

[abbygibson1212]

@dheltzel Do you know anyone in Missouri?

 

[dheltzel]

I don't know any breeders, but I seem to recall that there are several commercial hatcheries there, you could do a google search to find them. If any are close enough to drive, you might be able to get some of the breeds you are looking for and save some money, as well as "wear and tear" on the chicks. I know the hatcheries say chicks ship fine and they do it all the time, but logically, not making them go through the postal service has to be an advantage.

 

[PapaChaz]

I can give you the name and number of the breeder I bought my blue americanas from. he also has wheatens and creme legbars... He doesn't sex them though. He does ship, was telling me he has an order to ship to Indiana later this week I think it was.

 

[jennyg]

Seems like you have a long list of specialty breeds which might be hard to find them all, especially hatching the same time.
I got all mine from asagi, I local hatchery. I wasn't set on breeds before we started looking at the hatcheries list.
I really wanted a polish this time around, but since I already have 2 and 1 yr old birds which includes a very dominant production red, they actually advised me not too. Good luck, Google local hatcheries usually pops right up