I need a Online Hatchery Ordering 101 course

[Scatterknit]

I don't understand how they work. Can someone give me a primer?

For example, how do they know that on August 7 they'll have 8 female and 6 male Day Old chicks available to ship?

Any thoughts on the best time to order? Do they have more inventory at certain times of the year? Or more available to order?

Some breeds (I guess the most popular) are pictured but they don't have any available for the next several months. Why is that?

Which are the best hatcheries with low minimum orders? If you want to just add a few to your flock, what would you suggest?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't understand how they work. Can someone give me a primer?

All the hatcheries are different, as is the way they do business. The bigger ones are pretty much the same but smaller ones have some peculiarities.

For example, how do they know that on August 7 they'll have 8 female and 6 male Day Old chicks available to ship?

Because they'll be setting sufficient number of eggs 21 days earlier (July 17) to cover all the orders and they have a highly paid person that can sex chicks with about a 90% accuracy.

Any thoughts on the best time to order? Do they have more inventory at certain times of the year? Or more available to order?

Some hatcheries don't carry chicks in the winter. Some sell out for the year by mid summer. Some sell out for the year as soon as they start collecting orders. I don't like to order chicks in mid summer. It can get too hot for a bunch of chicks in a box. I prefer fall. It cooler, the chicks get acclimated to the cold and they'll be laying eggs by spring.
It's personal preference though. Lots of people like to start in the spring.

Some breeds (I guess the most popular) are pictured but they don't have any available for the next several months. Why is that?

Because they're sold out. It's either, not enough breeding birds to meet the demand, or they only have a certain amount of incubator/hatcher space.

Which are the best hatcheries with low minimum orders? If you want to just add a few to your flock, what would you suggest?

There are several now that have low minimums. My pet chicken comes to mind, I'm sure others will chime in with a list of others.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I found this thread for you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/471406/online-hatcheries-with-low-minimums

On a forum with 800,000 threads, one's questions have been answered before.
There is also a thread that lists all the hatcheries by state.

 

[Scatterknit]

Thank you!