Help! How do I decide where to buy from?

[LilyandSparrow]

I understand, but don't rush into a decision because you feel like the clock is ticking. Fall for chicks can be just fine. You're in western Washington, you said? So I'm thinking pretty mild temperatures in the winter if you're near the coast. If you use the heating pad brooder method and brooder them outside, they'll feather out faster than if you brooder them in the insidious torture chamber ..... I mean the inside brooder with the heating lamp .... so they'll be well prepared for winter.

It probably won't come to that. You have options. I'm thinking you'll have chicks by the end of the month.

Ok, that's good to know. We're just an hour or so inland from the coast, so it's pretty mild here. Last winter we only had a few days that dipped below freezing. I hate making decisions under pressure And, oh, I'd love to have the chicks by the end of July, that would be fabulous.

 

[crash0330]

Lilyandsparrow if you do decide to go the hatchery route maybe try Ideal or Cackle, I just had an order of chicks delivered this morning from Ideal poultry. I live Iin southern California and they all made it to may house in 2 days, they were shipped Tuesday afternoon and I got them Thursday morning, all well and alive. I was also surprised at the availability of their chicks, as I ordered on Monday and they shipped Tuesday.
I believe they have most heavy breeds ready to ship for next week, heavy breeds including Barred Rocks, Australorps, Orpingston Brahamas.
More rare breeds I do believe they might be sold out on those until next year.
Have you considered Easter egger Chickens btw, they are pretty cool, they can be all kinds of colors and they can lay green or blue eggs.

 

[LilyandSparrow]

Lilyandsparrow if you do decide to go the hatchery route maybe try Ideal or Cackle, I just had an order of chicks delivered this morning from Ideal poultry. I live Iin southern California and they all made it to may house in 2 days, they were shipped Tuesday afternoon and I got them Thursday morning, all well and alive. I was also surprised at the availability of their chicks, as I ordered on Monday and they shipped Tuesday.
I believe they have most heavy breeds ready to ship for next week, heavy breeds including Barred Rocks, Australorps, Orpingston Brahamas.
More rare breeds I do believe they might be sold out on those until next year.
Have you considered Easter egger Chickens btw, they are pretty cool, they can be all kinds of colors and they can lay green or blue eggs.

That is great to know! I feel bad the little chicks have to make such a long journey! It's unexpected to me that there aren't really very many choices for West Coast hatcheries. I keep going back and for on EE chickens; I kind of wanted to stick with more heritage breeds, but my littlest is really looking forward to having colored eggs

 

[crash0330]

That is great to know! I feel bad the little chicks have to make such a long journey! It's unexpected to me that there aren't really very many choices for West Coast hatcheries. I keep going back and for on EE chickens; I kind of wanted to stick with more heritage breeds, but my littlest is really looking forward to having colored eggs

Yeah it caught me by surprise too when I first wanted to get chickens. I think I was kind of in the same situation when I first wanted to get chickens, I had to drive a lot to get some of my chickens, no breeders or even just people with chickens around my area. I would drive 2, 3 even 4 hours sometimes just to get some chickens I wanted.


And I'm sure you will fall in love with your chickens no matter what breed you get they are all great creatures. I am more partial to Ameraucanas and Easter eggers just cuz I love their big beards and their green eggs, but I also have Barred rocks and silkies and other mutts and I love them as much as my EE's.