New Guy here. Looking for some Chickens Riverside, CA

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There is a lot to think about when contemplating buying chickens. You want to purchase from a reputable place that is NPIP certified. If offered the opportunity to vaccinate if buying one day old chickens, I would recommend vaccinating against Mareks Disease. It usually cost a dollar or less per bird and will help prevent one of the most lethal diseases out there for chickens. I would also recommend starting on 20% starter grower feed as will need that high a protein to maximize growth for first 8 weeks of life. Would also provide a medicated feed to prevent coccidiosis another common life threatening ailment in chickens. You can find articles in the Learning Center regarding them. Also decide if feeding organic feed matters to you or not. Here is an article of the things that should be considered when purchasing chickens, helpful links, and a breed chart inside of most common breeds in the US and their characteristics. Hope this helps! Good Luck! Have fun!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/choosing-the-right-breed-for-you.74446/
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RobtheBert said:
Hello

how is everyone. Im a father of 4 kids and building a coop with my son. We as a family have been wanting some chickens for over a year so we finally decided to do it. My coop is almost done so we will be looking for about 4 egg laying chickins. I have no idea where to get them so if anyone near me has any for sale please let me know. Also any tips are welcomed, I still have to fifure out water and feed systems and what feed to get. Thanks in advance
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Welcome to BYC
Before you continue on your journey with chickens please read this
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Newcastle_Disease_Info.html
Learn all you can about Bio Security...This all started here last spring after a poultry show and they haven't been able to get a handle on it so now everyone in the affected areas is losing their flocks. Also a commercial flock in the area has it as well, no mention of where exactly. So if you are in an affected area you may want to wait and or contact the state or county to find out if you can have chicken or if there is a hold on new flocks
 
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Best advice is space. Figure 4 sq ft per bird in coop and 10 sq ft per bird in run. Make sure you increase if anticipating expanding in future years. Make sure you have checked your laws and ordinances in your city and are abiding by them. They dictate numbers, sex, type of housing, location of housing on your property, and may require a permit to own fowl. This helps prevent needed modifications later. :)
 
sourland said:
Welcome to BYC. Access your state thread with the link provided by Mr Porky, and perhaps someone local can supply some birds or wait until spring and buy some chicks. Beware of Craig's list birds for a variety of reasons.
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I bought 2 beautiful SLW from a lady on Craigslist. They were 16 weeks old. She buys chicks in the spring/summer and raises them to sell. At 17/18 weeks they started laying. Shells are tough, I do feed oyster shell, but I don't think mine had kicked in because they weren't eating very well the first week or so. They first day I let them out of the coop to feed, outside. One of them jumped on the roof of the coop and I had to put down feed up there. She wouldn't come down. Finally she did. So long story short I think she must have either been feeding good food or oyster shell. They were lively, bright eyed and skittish. Very nice birds for $10 each. Just know what you are getting and don't buy if they aren't up to snuff.
 

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