Newbie in MA - Where can I buy...

[TeddyBearSilkie]

Hi, I'm a newbie to chickens in northeast MA and I'm looking for advice on where to purchase a few items. Where can I purchase river sand? Cheapest place to buy pine shavings? I'm having trouble locating Silkie hens/pullets. Is there anyone out there with some Silkies? I was hoping to not get straight run chicks, as I was only interested in hens (at least for now), but it seems this is how most people sell them. Perhaps someone can advise me on the best way to obtain a small flock, chicks or otherwise.

 

[Angiebubs]

Hi Freemebean!!
Do you have Fleet Farms in your area? That is where I buy my food and pine shavings. Otherwise try local co ops?

As far as chicks, I have ordered sexed pullet chicks from MyPetChicken.com and been very happy with the service. It is one of the few places where you can order small quantities. I beleive McMurray Hatchery also allows small number of chicks. My Pet Chicken is the only place i know of that offers sexed bantams too!

Good luck!

 

[keesmom]

Where in MA are you located?

Silkies are mostly sold straight run because it takes so long for them to mature. Often it takes 5-6 months before you can tell pullets from cockerels. So when you finally do locate some pullets it's going to cost you more than it would for the average layer hen.

Just saw you were in NE MA. For supplies there's Essex County Coop in Topsfield, Agway in Danvers, Chelmsford and Plaistow NH, and Dodge Grain in Salem NH.

 

[TeddyBearSilkie]

I do not have a Fleet Farms here in MA so I'll have to find some local grain stores. Thanks Angiebubs for the info on the hatcheries; I'll look into the pullets for sure. I'm not too sure if I want to go the baby chick route but due to limited availability of pullets and price it is certainly something to consider.

 

[TeddyBearSilkie]

Thanks for the info keesmom. I'm located in Dracut. Price is certainly a consideration. I suppose being a newbie to chickens has me nervous about bringing up baby chicks. I thought I had covered all my bases in my chicken research, but I hadn't considered the possibility of having to raise chicks.

 

[keesmom]

Are you getting them for eggs, or just to have some birds? Silkies are NOT good layers. They like to sit on them. Mine (I still have 2) repeatedly go broody year round and I've had the whole coop go broody at once.

Dodge Grain in Salem has lots of chicks still coming in and no minimum. This time of year is an easy time to raise chicks. You can put them outside a lot earlier, but you'd have to wait until fall for eggs.

 

[TeddyBearSilkie]

I was interested in Silkies as companions/yard entertainment as well as for a few eggs. I was thinking about getting between 3-6 and I was hoping for a dozen eggs a week. My poultry experience is very low so I was hoping that Silkies being a docile breed might make a good beginner chicken. Do you have any other breed recommendations for a beginner (I've looked some up but it's always nice to get a personal opinion)? Breeds that do well with Silkies? The coop I'm getting tomorrow is 7x7 so I was thinking of sticking with bantams, but I'm open to fewer larger birds.

Do you know what kind of chicks Dodge Grain has? Do you think I could get away with having them outside in 3 weeks?

 

[keesmom]

Regarding bantams vs LF. Downside to bantams is they usually do not come sexed and the eggs are smaller. Upside is they eat less and you can have more birds. If you are worried about having to get rid of roosters, it is possible.

Here is the link to Dodge Grain's poultry page.

http://www.dodgegrain.biz/content.aspx?cid=6

As far as docile breeds go, I'm more familiar with large birds. Orpingtons, Rocks, Faverolles (I have those), Cochins and Brahmas come to mind. Bantam cochins are fairly common.

 

[TeddyBearSilkie]

Again, thanks for the info. I will be sure to check out the link and see what they have. I'm going to go back and evaluate chicken breeds to see if there are any others that might work for me (large or small).

 

[Angiebubs]

I would also highly recommend orpingtons if you are considering LF. Easter Eggers and Speckled suxxes are also very sweet. My cochin bantams are the friendliest fluff balls around but two of their eggs equal one LF egg...plus they love to go broody and just sit in the nestbox (not laying eggs!) Faverolles are also sweet quirky chickens