Help looking for chicks in Ontario, Canada

[poussin_noir]

Hi, I am looking for some help in finding some chicks for sale, most Hatcheries have all of their orders filled already and was told I have to wait until next year.
I am looking to end up with 6 laying hens at the most and most places will only ship if you get 25 or more chicks at a time. How do you small backyard chicken keepers get a small amount of chicks without driving 100's of km's?
I only knew of Performance Poultry and Frey's, any others I could try? Anyone have extra chicks they would be able to sell?

I am in Orillia, Ontario, and any help would be appreciated this is my first time lol.

 

[morelcabin]

Is Freys not able to get you laying hens either? That is strange.... There is also a guy in Huntsville advertising for ready to lay hens right now. The number is 705-789-8278. I don't know what the breed is but they do have RTL hens available, and day old chicks, and are only about an hour from you

 

[morelcabin]

Huronia Fur and Feather Club...705-487-2958 the man's name is John Hawkins and he has info on every breeder there is in your area. You actually have access to ALOT of different varieties. Alot of them are for show though. I used to have the breeder list but I lost it. You might have to 'join' to get any info, but it is only $15 and you will get newsletters with places and dates of shows and auctions.

 

[poussin_noir]

Wow! Thanks for your speedy reply.
I will check out the info you gave me for sure!
I called Frey's the first time my fiancee called and I don't know who he spoke too but the info was wrong. I can still order chicks and have them sent to the nearest coop store which is Barrie in my case.
The only problem with Frey's is that they don't have the breeds I was looking into. I really fell in love with the different Wyandottes.
I was thinking if I was going to order from them maybe try some Barred Plymouth Rock ?
Are they difficult for a first time chicken owner. I am looking for a cold hardy laying breed and one that forgiving to some newbie mistakes(not delicate).
There is many cross breeds on their breed page, anyone with some experience on these crosses?
http://www.freyshatchery.com/index1.html
I was kinda curious about these crosses Columbian Rock X Red and
New Hampshire X Barred Rock.
Sorry if this got off topic but where would be the appropriate place to ask these questions.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Also there is the livestock sale in Mt Forest. i believe it is the 3rd weekend in October. They had plenty of red and black sexlinks there. I plan of having some to sell come the spring sale there, but not for this fall.

Also, i ordered my meat chicks from my local purina co-op. They also offer other chickens, with no minimum. You could try that.

 

[morelcabin]

I'm so far north I always end up ordering from Freys. I have tried most of thier crossbreedsnd they are all good birds really if you want layers. I always have at least 5 of thier shaver reds...they are a very friendly bird that easily turn into pets...just throw them a handfull of scratch for a couple of weeks everytime you see them and they will absolutely do anything to get close to you and follow you around the yard.
I have thier barred rocks this year as well. I had a them a few years ago, and I love the look of them.
For the wyandottes you're looking for, I know a guy in Utopia that might have some available. Let me know if you want his number.
Tammy

 

[Chick_a_dee]

That's funny because we just ordered chicks from Frey's through the Co-op in Orono, like... yesterday, and they're due to come to us on July 16th, so I'm certain Frey's still has chicks, you may have to travel though because it's likely that it's not because they don't have chicks, but because they don't have more going to your specific location. Order from a co-op nearer the GTA, it involves you traveling, but they'll be able to get you chicks from Frey's, or Millpond I believe it's called.

Good luck!

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
I posted below

We're getting the R.I. Red X Columbian Rock cross, they're beautiful and "dual purpose," but still a good size it seems. We've ordered 15 chicks for the time being, you might try a farm auction, I'm not sure if the Barkey Auction in Claremont has chickens, I know they get cattle and such so it's a possibility.

 

[tristancolli]

I have ordered my 47 chicks from frey's they are comming in sept 9th if u are a first time i would order the white leghorns they are a really high quality eggs and they are acually very frendly when they are used to people i have one now and she will sit on my lap and everything and wil eat out of your hand but i would order the leghorns from frey's or the Road Island Reds

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Just a little check back on this situation. We got our chicks from Freys last year (like I said, the day before you posted) and I am in love with our RIR X hens a year later! ... They are great layers, very friendly, extremely healthy, and fun to be around.