New to raising chickens

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janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC.
What hatchery are you buying from? Are they newly hatched chicks? Are they unusual colors? What is their policy on mistakes in gender?
All of that will influence the price of chickens.
I have bought from Ideal poultry and been very satisfied. I have chicks from Tractor Supply that are from unknown hatcheries. I'm not a breeder so I'm not concerned about their being perfect specimens.
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It’s Blue House Farms. She did inform me that this batch would be coming from a hatchery because her flock won’t have chicks for a couple of months. They are sexed, they are buff Orpingtons, Black australorpa and white leghorns. They do come vaccinated and we have unlimited access to the owners knowledge. They got great reviews from everyone but like I said I’m not sure if the price is too much?
 
:welcome

Hi, prices for birds can vary depending on your location. I just quickly checked one of the large mail order hatcheries and for the breeds you're interested in, they are between $3 and $6 (price can vary depending on how many you want).

Best wishes establishing a flock!
 
Welcome to BYC!
Do you have a link to the website of the hatchery you plan to buy from?
I find that usually when people sell Marek's disease vaccinated chicks then they have the disease on their land.
 
HgL583 said:
It’s Blue House Farms. She did inform me that this batch would be coming from a hatchery because her flock won’t have chicks for a couple of months. They are sexed, they are buff Orpingtons, Black australorpa and white leghorns. They do come vaccinated and we have unlimited access to the owners knowledge. They got great reviews from everyone but like I said I’m not sure if the price is too much?
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If you are getting a small number, I wouldn't worry about that price. She's making money, but that's why she's selling them, right?

If she is getting from a hatchery, she's probably paying ~$5 each, but she is meeting the minimum order size and absorbing the cost of however many chicks die in shipping. For $12 I would hope to get a locally-hatched chick, but I wouldn't worry too much about getting a deal if you feel good buying from this person. I would recommend asking to take them at a week or two old, so any losses due to shipping or just weakness have already happened.
 
HgL583 said:
It’s Blue House Farms. She did inform me that this batch would be coming from a hatchery because her flock won’t have chicks for a couple of months. They are sexed, they are buff Orpingtons, Black australorpa and white leghorns. They do come vaccinated and we have unlimited access to the owners knowledge. They got great reviews from everyone but like I said I’m not sure if the price is too much?
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It sounds pretty high unless she will be raising them for a few weeks. None of those are rare breeds. I do understand that she is trying to turn a profit, but you can do better.
As far as knowledge, we have you covered.
I would Google several hatcheries (idealpoultry.com meyers hatcher, Murray McMurray) and check out their prices. Personally, I'd just go to tractor supply or atwoods. They sell sexed chicks for several weeks every spring.
Just be sure and buy pullets. Straight run or SR means they are not sexed.
 

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