Looking for advice....

[iriesisnfa]

Hello Back Yard Chickens Forum.... I am new to the world of chickens and could use some help.
I am a stay at home mommy of 2 beautiful twin boys and we live on the eastern shore of Maryland. I recently decided that I would like to have a small home flock of chickens. I think that it would be nice for my boys to grown up learning about respecting and caring for animals. I have been doing some homework before jumping in and even attended a short course a few nights ago on small flocks held by the area extension office. I want to do this right from the beginning. I have a few eggs in an incubator and they are due to hatch next Friday. I got the eggs from a friend who has a small backyard flock in the area where I live. I would however like to have a few more chicks of different breeds to add to what will hopefully hatch.
I have visited some hatchery sights that I have found online like Murry McMurry and My pet chicken but after taking the short course I think that I should get my chicks from a NPIP source so as to not introduce disease.
So, my question to you is, how do I find chicks that are NPIP? I have tried to find breeders or hatcheries online but have not really come up with much.
Thanks so much,
Debbie

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Most of your hatcheries are National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certified. Check out Ideal hatchery and Meyer hatchery for example.

 

[sourland]

Go to the Maryland or Eastern Shore/Delmarva threads under "Where am I? Where are you." You should be able to locate some local breeders there.

 

[chickengrl]

You are on the right track with your birds. Go with good hatcheries or NPIP breeders. Avoid grown birds from places like auctions, Craig's list, Poultry Swaps. Nothing against these folks, but the chances of bringing home disease is much higher from these sources. I wish I had been as smart as you are starting out. I had to learn it the hard and painful way. Good luck! I think you will LOVE them.

 

[sillyovrsilkies]

Quote:
The hatchery's are NPIP certified, so there's not too much worry about new chicks; however, after having hatchery birds and finding NPIP breeder stock, I'd say hold out for breeder stock! I raise Silkies and there is a tremendous difference in the way a hatchery bird looks in comparison to breeder stock. There is also a breeder listing located on BYC, so perhaps that would be helfpul as well.