mail order chicks vs feed store chicks

[felidaet]

It depends upon the feed stores in your area. There are lots of feed stores and nurseries (yes garden stores) around me that sell chicks. The majority of these chicks come from the major national hatcheries but not all of them. Some of them are locally hatched. Most of these stores have knowledgeable people handling them properly. Some of them have a large selection of breeds if you are willing to get them spread out over a 2 - 3 week period. Some of these stores sell out almost immediately after they come in. If you are getting them from a feed store you should plan on getting there the day they come in, preferably as soon as they are in (usually sometime in the morning).

One advantage of getting them at a feed store is that you can usually pick out which chick(s) you want from the bin. Last year I bought 3 EE's. I spent about 45 minutes or so deciding which three I wanted. There was probably close to 100 of them in the bin. I went into the store knowing that I wanted chicks with green legs and I wanted all three to have different coloring. I am very happy with the three I got. I will admit that it was really hard to pick only three. I almost came home with a fourth one. This year I am going back to the same store to get three more. This year I would really like to get one or two that are primarily white.

Last year I got 18 from feed stores (from 3 different feed stores) and was very happy with all of them. Only 1 turned out to be a rooster. This year I am getting 25 more. 11 are on order from a local breeder and 14 will come from at least 2 feed stores. Hopefully no extras find their way home... However, I do need to keep in mind that I could end up with a couple of roosters. Maybe I should get a couple of extras just in case.

 

[ams3651]

I got from the feed store because I only wanted a few. Got there first thing in the morning after they got there so they were just fine. They had what I wanted. Didnt have to pay for shipping. Didnt loose one of them. Some stores will order in want you want and hold them for you.

 

[CrazyMomOf2]

I just ordered my chicks from MPC, which will be here in exactly one week. I was able to order exactly what I wanted and I like the fact that they put a little heat element in there with them for the ride. That's a huge concern for me, since we've been having some awful weather lately, although it looks like we'll be in the balmy 40s next week!

 

[Carpe DiHen]

Quote:
Well thought out!

I agree!

 

[Guinea Goonie]

If you want chicks that feed stores have on their list and you can not find them from a local breeder, then the feed store is easier and the delivery from the hatchery can actually be easier on the chicks.

Feed stores order HUNDREDS of chicks for their "chick days" and they usually get their order in ONE FELL SWOOP.

They arrive in BIG cardboard boxes and from this they are distributed to the people who order. If you have a feed store you do business with on a regular basis then you should be able to order as many or few as you need (or like).

On chick days at our local feed store they set up LOTS of tables in a room that is kept at over 80 degrees and there are literally well over a thousand chicks in those boxes. The sound is deafening from the chirping of the chicks when you walk into the room. It really is quite the production !!

 

[harryg6167]

We have a feed store local here that is great with baby chicks. I always bought from them until I decided last year I did not want to wait for the 2 months it was going to be before they had more chicks come in. They order everything from ideal and I think Estes.
The brooders are located in a seperate part of the store that the climate is more controlled than the rest of the store. They also sell gardening seeds in this part. The man working that dept. has responsibility of doing seeds and tending chicks all day and has been doing this job for several years now.
The reason I always used them is when I know they had an order of what i wanted coming in I could call and ask for him and he would hold me
ever how many i wanted for 2 weeks. I knew a little more of how they were doing by getting them at 2 weeks instead of 3-4 days old.
But not all feed stores are like that.I think these people are the exception, not the rule.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I was able to get 2 week old pullets at a nursery/hardware store and they buy locally!! Paid $4.00 a piece but I bought 15 pullets and ended up with 15. No roosters in the bunch!!

Missi

 

[twentynine]

All the feed stores I know of around here get chicks mail order from the same hatcheries you would order from.

If it is breed availability/selection naturally ordering yourself you would find much more variety. One thing I like about my local feed store, they charge $2 for a sexed pullet, day old. However if they don't sell that day old pullet, she goes into their brouder. I have purchased 8 week old pullets for $2.

 

[mommyof5]

Here is my crazy opinion,

FEED STORE PROS; 1, You get to pick your chicks(lets be honest even as chicks some are cuter than others)
2, You can get as many or as few as you want.
3, A good feed store will take the time to order the best chicks for your climate and elevation.( Great idea for us newbies)
4, One stop shopping; feed, waterers, heat lamps and bedding material all in one stop.
5, lots of advice from others be it from employees or other chicken shoppers( chick days are a great way to make friends with people that aren't going to think your nuts for having chicks in your bathroom or any where else in your house)

6, You don't see he ones that did not make the trip, and can also watch the ones that did so that you can pick out ones that show no problems that might have slipped through the packing process.

FEED STORE CONS; 1, Other people are going to touch them, they will get a little manhandled and may be exposed to things we just don't want around our birds.
2, Feed store birds are generally not vaccinated.
3, Chicks available may not be what you want, our feed store puts out a flier with breeds and dates available weeks in advance.
4, First come first served, around here the early bird gets the better selection.
5, You get your chicks when they say you get your chicks.


MAIL ORDER PROS; 1, You get to pick your chicks.(better selection)
2, You get to pick who you order from.
3, You can get as many as you want or as few, if your willing to pay special shipping for just a few.
4, You can order vaccinated chicks.
5, The phone call from the USPS is so exciting.
6,You get to keep the packing peanuts!!!!!
7, Fewer people in contact with them. Our local Post Office has very friendly employees that love to "check" on baby chicks.
8, You can order when you want, within hatching season and get your birds when you are ready for them.


MAIL ORDER CONS; 1, Not always the best choice if you are to off the beaten path, it can leave your babies sitting a little longer.
2, You will be the one to see if they all made the trip. And be the one that deals with deaths.
3, Husbands do not always like being up all night with excited wives and kids waiting for the phone to ring!!!!!

We have bought from our local feed store and will do it again this spring, but I have already ordered some "Mail Order Babes" also.

 

[FlyWheel]

Thanks for bringing up the shipping issue. If you're intent on getting just a few birds expect to pay through the egg vent for shipping. The four I'm expecting cost me $61, and none of the chicks were priced over $6, that's including mareks vaccinations. The rest of the total price is just to get them here!!