Help! In California and afraid to order from hatcheries 1400 miles away.

[Poshlissa]

I am brand new to “chickening” and planning to order my first chicks for the spring. But I am in Southern California, and all of the raved about hatcheries are about 1,400 miles away from me. Ideal is probably the closest in TX but they have a $30 limit and I only have a small coop that holds 6 hens max. I was hoping to start with 4 or 5. With the USPS being so slow right now, I’m really worried my babies would not survive the trip from Cackle or Meyer or McMurray. I’m also not sure of the best hatch/ship date from them. I am a California girl and weather here…unless it’s August and 112 degrees…is not usually a factor.
Can someone walk me off the ledge and just tell me who to order from?? Lol

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I am brand new to “chickening” and planning to order my first chicks for the spring. But I am in Southern California, and all of the raved about hatcheries are about 1,400 miles away from me. Ideal is probably the closest in TX but they have a $30 limit and I only have a small coop that holds 6 hens max. I was hoping to start with 4 or 5. With the USPS being so slow right now, I’m really worried my babies would not survive the trip from Cackle or Meyer or McMurray. I’m also not sure of the best hatch/ship date from them. I am a California girl and weather here…unless it’s August and 112 degrees…is not usually a factor.
Can someone walk me off the ledge and just tell me who to order from?? Lol

Ideal will let you round up your order to $30 even if it isn't $30 worth of chicks. There are quite a few hatcheries in California too, off the top of my head Papa's Poultry has some neat breeds and he has a lot of new project birds too. and CaliforniaHatchery.com has a wide variety. I have ordered from McMurray and I'm in Texas, my chicks were here in 2 days, this year I was paraniod about the postal service so I found a farm near by. There will be risks no matter what, so it's your decision. Happy chick hunting

 

[Kiki]

Order from Ideal.

 

[Aunt Angus]

California hatchery is a "middle man." That company has no hatcheries here. The hatcheries in CA have very high order minimums: Belt, Welp, etc. I'd look at Ideal, too.

You might look for local breeders. Then there is no worry about shipping. Spring might be a better time to look.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thought I'd also add that I don't order chicks anymore because of shipping problems. I get my chicks from local folks and feed stores. Feed store chicks are shipped to the stores, but then at least you don't run the risk of shipping disasters.

 

[Poshlissa]

Order from Ideal.

Have you ordered from them and had a good experience?

 

[Poshlissa]

Thought I'd also add that I don't order chicks anymore because of shipping problems. I get my chicks from local folks and feed stores. Feed store chicks are shipped to the stores, but then at least you don't run the risk of shipping disasters.

I will call the feed stores and see if they will let me order through them. We have two decent ones here in my town.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you order pullets, that will help with the 30$ minimum since the sexed ones are usually 5$+

 

[Poshlissa]

California hatchery is a "middle man." That company has no hatcheries here. The hatcheries in CA have very high order minimums: Belt, Welp, etc. I'd look at Ideal, too.

You might look for local breeders. Then there is no worry about shipping. Spring might be a better time to look.

I just realized all that looking at their websites. One is only 1.5 hrs from me but doesn’t allow pick up because they get their chicks from other people. And some of them require a 25 chick minimum.

 

[Poshlissa]

If you order pullets, that will help with the 30$ minimum since the sexed ones are usually 5$+

Oh that’s true! I kinda wanted to experience the whole baby chick thing tho.