How Many Chicks or Ducklings Have to Be Purchased at One Time?

[MEH0806]

Hi there,

In the state of Maine, I have heard that you have to purchase 6 chicks at a time (when you have none).

Is this also the case if you already have chickens at home? We have 17 already - do we have to buy 6 more at a time or can we buy 2 or 3 (like at Tractor Supply for Chick Days)?

Similarly, with ducklings, do you also have to buy in quantities of 6? We don't have ducks yet, but would like some. Can we buy less than 6 if we already have poultry at home?

Any insight is appreciated.

thanks!

 

[sylviethecochin]

It's to prevent people taking home chicks for Easter (awww, cute--the kids'll love these) and then abandoning them by the road when they start to get ugly. So yeah, they're not going to let you buy fewer than six chicks. What you can do is find a person in similar straits and ask, "wanna split a box?"

I believe that the minimum for ducklings (in PA) is four, but don't quote me on that.

Good luck.