Not available at this time!

[Our Roost]

Placing orders for "specific" breeds of chickens has been a tough venture exploring whats available through hatcheries this season. It is only mid February and I am finding that most of their stock is sold out or already spoken for this season.
Take the Orpington for example, there are multiple color options such as blue, lavender, golden laced, and many more other than buff, black, and white. I know some are rarer (and expensive also) than others and on a limited supply if any, but to be sold out for the season already and just plain not available kind of put the brakes on my ambitions. Last year I was forced to take some breeds as left overs for the same reasons. All last season I had my hopes up of purchasing birds early this year to obtain the breeds I wanted and I find I'm blown out of the water again! Very frustrating. Out of state hatcheries other than my state are just as much saddled with heavy orders and sold out or limited as well. I would really like to get some info on blue, lavender, golden laced or even speckled orps at a reasonable price. Any tips on where to find them would be helpful. No eggs please!

 

[Baybrio]

Have you tried Cedar Creek Hatchery? I have not used them but I emailed a question about shipping and they responded REALLY fast. I saw Lavender Orps and another rare color. You can google the hatchery name.

 

[Our Roost]

Thanks for the lead and tip but they do not carry blue orpingtons. Lots of cool birds though!

 

[Criskin]

Honestly, I think the only way to get the Orps you want without paying Greenfire Farms Prices is to buy hatching eggs. I've had Lavender Orps for a few years and although now they are more common, at the time my only options were to pay way too much for them or order hatching eggs. I bought a Hovabator and turner on Ebay for less than $100 and just ordered the eggs I wanted both here on BYC and on Ebay. I didn't really want to bother with hatching eggs but the initial investment ended up making it fairly cheap to aquire the breeds I wanted.

 

[hopefulpeeps]

Watch on Meyer/mypetchicken and an available date may open up. Check daily! I noticed the blue orpington was unavailable, but one day the March 11th hatch date had some available again, then next day they were gone. You never knwo when they will have an order cancelled or if they think they might have more to hatch than they thought...

 

[Criskin]

You can also put yourself on their wait list. The breed I wanted was sold out for the year but a couple weeks after I was put on the waiting list they called to see if I still wanted them and shipped them out.

 

[Our Roost]

My Pet Chicken carries them and yes, I do have to keep checking back to see if some might become available. Depends on how many eggs the brood lays 3 weeks before hatching. There is no waiting list to put your name on ! ! Wish there was. I didnt know, but they start taking orders as early as december. I have a special interest in this color but wont be disapointed if I cant get them this year.

 

[hopefulpeeps]

Meyer has the blue orpington available March 18 and September 16, both very limited, so hurry up!

 

[Our Roost]

Hey hopeful! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! September or sooner depending on egg hatch.

 

[hopefulpeeps]

Yay, I'm glad you got some ordered!!! I've been seeing sold out breeds coming available on Mondays for a few weeks later, maybe their hens are laying better than they thought they would...