newbie with questions

[terrym]

i want to raise 2-3 egg layers (small yard) the hatcheries will only ship out 25 or more, because of body heat. what should i do? also, besides thier daily food. what can chickens eat and not eat
? thank-you terrym

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Try finding a local feed store, or look on Craigslist...you'll be sure to find some chicks there!!

Here's a link for a chicken treat chart...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[Echos_dad]

mypetchicken.com will ship as few as three. Their birds are very healthy too. That's if you can't get any from a feed store.... 'Tis the season!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined. Good luck with your quest.

 

[homegrown]

Welcome from New Hampshire. Do you know anyone that raises chickens? I was fortunate enough to work with a lady that raises chickens and she had a brooding hen. I had wanted to start my own flock, but was nervous about getting day old chicks and raising them from the start. Her brooding hen raised my day old until they were old enough for me to take them without the constant heat lamps.
She gets hers from a local feed store, 6 at a time. I know our local Blue Seal store orders chicks and can be ordered and picked up there at the store. Good luck in your search, because they are so much fun to raise and the benefits are great.

:

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I've heard good things about "My Pet Chicken" chicks, but I ended up buying the six breeds I wanted from the feed store! Good luck to you on your new venture!

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[WhetzelMomma]

My Pet Chicken only ships three to large cities. I live three hours from the one they ship to here, and not knowing a delivery date would make it pretty hard to get them shipped.

My ideas:
1. Find some friends who want to order with you, and order together as one order.
2. Order the 25 and list some chickens of your OWN on craig's list.
3. If you have a good county fair near you, you may be able to buy chickens there. I never have, but I know that there are always some for sale at our county fair. There are more rare breeds available there too.

ALSO:
Search Craigslist for LAYING HENS or PULLETS. I found a man in my area that owns a farm, and is taking reservations for hens now. He hatches his chicks, and will grow them to the age you want them. (waiting until they are laying costs you more.) He guarentees sex, so if for some reason "you" got a late blooming Rooster, he'd replace it with a hen. Sent him $20.00 to hold four pullets, and if I change my mind, he'll refund half. I'll be picking them up in June. It's a pretty cool deal when you don't want to order a billion chicks and have to deal with the possibilities of not getting the sex you want.

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:

from Indiana!

 

[dbcox]

I was interested to note that "Tractor Supply" had a restriction that they had to sell a minimum of 6 chicks at a time a week before Easter. They said it was a USDA restriction. Didn't make sense to me and I thought it might be a good way to keep people from buying Easter presents that would be discarded or inproperly treated. I have bought three chicks at a time right down the street from them at a farm supply/feed store. If you do a search on this website on feeds you will find good information on what you can and cannot feed to your poultry. Basically stay away from raw potato skins and partially cooked beans. My chickens seem to eat everything they come across including frogs. Welcome and good luck!