North Carolina

[3KillerBs]

@3KillerBs Since I am new to the area and this will be my first time ordering live baby chicks from a hatchery this next spring, what would be a good shipping date for the chicks in relationship to the spring time temperatures? or maybe I don't have a say in when they ship them?

I forgot to ask that question when I called them. LOL

That depends on how you're going to raise them -- indoors, in the coop, in a garage, ... Also if you're going to use a heat lamp or a brooding plate (some brooding plates have to be used at certain temperatures and aren't good if temps drop much below ordinary indoor temps).

I had intended to get chicks in March last year but ended up getting them in May and September when daytime heat was more of a problem than nighttime cold so I don't have winter/early spring chick experience yet.

Hopefully others with more direct experience will chime in.

 

[416bigbore]

That depends on how you're going to raise them -- indoors, in the coop, in a garage, ... Also if you're going to use a heat lamp or a brooding plate (some brooding plates have to be used at certain temperatures and aren't good if temps drop much below ordinary indoor temps).

I had intended to get chicks in March last year but ended up getting them in May and September when daytime heat was more of a problem than nighttime cold so I don't have winter/early spring chick experience yet.

Hopefully others with more direct experience will chime in.

I will keep them indoors at first with a heat lamp until they are about 4 weeks old and then with weather permitting move them outside into a building with a larger brooder pen until fully feathered.

I guess I was more concerned with the outside temps during the shipping of the day old chicks. I don't know what the Hatchery and or UPS does to care for these baby's during shipping to keep them warm enough? I guess this can be another question I ask Ideal.

My main reason for wanting to order from a reputable hatchery is, I will know for sure I am going to receive a pure breed Black Australorp chicks over buying from TSC and trusting that they have their baby chicks labeled right? I have heard that crazy story a time or two. LOL

 

[3KillerBs]

I have 7-week pullets for sale: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...th-carolina-inquire-in-re-blue-males.1500896/

 

[416bigbore]

I have 7-week pullets for sale: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...th-carolina-inquire-in-re-blue-males.1500896/

Are you having any luck with rehoming your pullets ?

 

[3KillerBs]

Are you having any luck with rehoming your pullets ?

Not yet. My for-sale notice at the feed store keeps disappearing.

I'm going to have to use Craigslist, I think.

 

[416bigbore]

Not yet. My for-sale notice at the feed store keeps disappearing.

I'm going to have to use Craigslist, I think.

I see lots of Poultry always posted on CL. It seems like there is baby chicks etc. that people sell all year round in NC. I would have never guessed that, I always though baby chicks were a spring time thing.

 

[3KillerBs]

I see lots of Poultry always posted on CL. It seems like there is baby chicks etc. that people sell all year round in NC. I would have never guessed that, I always though baby chicks were a spring time thing.

As I develop my chicken-selling plan I'll probably try to time things to have chickens ready for sale in the spring. Last year I sold my spare pullets quickly in the fall, but this year I've had no takers.

 

[3xhhheather]

As I develop my chicken-selling plan I'll probably try to time things to have chickens ready for sale in the spring. Last year I sold my spare pullets quickly in the fall, but this year I've had no takers.

I've seen a huge spike in people offloading their entire flocks in the NC FB chicken groups. Not sure if you'd have better luck posting on there in the spring, but it's kinda crazy to me how many people are saying goodbye all their birds right now.

 

[416bigbore]

I've seen a huge spike in people offloading their entire flocks in the NC FB chicken groups. Not sure if you'd have better luck posting on there in the spring, but it's kinda crazy to me how many people are saying goodbye all their birds right now.

It's just my theory, but when Covid hit and people had to stay home the number of people purchasing poultry exploded. Now after the fact people and or newbies are tired of the care of their flock and or have no time because of returning back to work. Just my thoughts on it.

 

[3xhhheather]

It's just my theory, but when Covid hit and people had to stay home the number of people purchasing poultry exploded. Now after the fact people and or newbies are tired of the care of their flock and or have no time because of returning back to work. Just my thoughts on it.

Oh totally and I've seen rising feed costs cited or lack of laying, which that one kinda boggles me during this time of year.