Only ordering a few!!

[angela56124]

This Spring I am ordering a few new chicks but only 3 or 4. As you may know on My Pet Chicken you can order as little as 3 chicks, and I am going to order 2 Silkies and 2 Ameraucana (give or take 1). I know it is risky because of so little but in my first batch last summer I spilt an oder with my Dad's friend and he odered 25 and I orderd 10. I only lost 1 and she was significantly smaller than the rest. I live an hour away from NYC, Phillie and Atlantic City and half an hour away from Trenton (I live in NJ)So do you think it would be safe to oder that many (3 OR 4), My dad wont let me get too many more!

 

[chicken boy sam]

I have heard that My Pet Chicken makes you pay OUTRAGEOUS PRICES for their chicks being shipped. They come with a heat packet and that's their whole secret...I think. Oh Also some hay, but I guess that's all.

 

[kichohana]

just for kicks i put about 5 chicks in the "shopping cart" on the MPC site. the chick total was $20.50. the shipping for my zip code (27577) was $31.50 for express mail - the only way they ship! outrageous! i think i will have better luck purchasing from local breeders. these "free eggs" are starting out quite expensive!

 

[Gonzo]

Why not try craigslist? you can find folks with baby chicks and not have to pay the outrageous shipping charges, and the chicks will be less stressed from not being on tour with the United States Postal Service.

 

[mags2009]

I too, only want a few, as we would like to add to our flock, which by the way, is NOT easy! But I would like 2 Welsummers, 3 silkies, and one Easter Egger, so I think I will have to pay the outrageous shipping. By the way, we got our first 8 from MPC, and didn't lose any! All were healthy.

 

[HEChicken]

I for one have never thought the MPC shipping cost to be "outrageous". They are shipping LIVE animals! There is significantly more attention required to prepare live animals for shipment than there is for other merchandise - and the fact that so many arrive without casualty is because they do take care to prepare them for their journey. There is always the cheaper option of buying chicks locally and NOT paying those shipping fees but in my area, I was pretty much limited to getting Buff Orps and White/Barred Rocks locally - for anything else my options were to buy day old chicks or to set up an incubator and try my luck incubating shipped eggs. For people who aren't able to order a minimum of 25 (us city folk with limitations on the number we are allowed to keep) and who don't have easy access to a variety of breeds, it is nice to find a company from which it is possible to order a small number of different types of chicks.

 

[protodon]

It's really not hard to order hatchery minimums and sell the ones you don't want. Also you said out of the 10 you got from the order you split, 1 died. If you only order 4 and one dies you're down to 3. Having extras can't hurt because if you lose some that you really wanted you're going to end up ordering again which will just add to your cost and is a bit of a hassle.

 

[angela56124]

Yes, thats true, and I wouldn't mind spending a little money for chicks. The thing is I could also go to the closet Agway (About half an hour away) which would reduse the price and death rate (rather than havuing them shipped) but I'm not sure if they would have Ameraucanas and Silkies. Ill just have to check then. Thanks for your posts!!

 

[chicken boy sam]

Also, try your local livestock auction! I sold my 11 leghorn roos there and I also got 3 polish, a buff orp, an EE, and a black cohin( Ended up being a roo) they were all healthy and un-stressed!

 

[ErieSpurs]

Meyer Hatchery also does small orders, and I believe their shipping may be a bit cheaper.

It is also where most of MPC's chicks come from anyway (or so I've heard).

You could just place an ad on Craigslist for someone to go in on an order with you. Meyer and Cackle have small order sizes of 15 or less.

Or you could order the 4 that you want then just get 10 or so meat chickens to raise because you'll only have them for 7-8 weeks.

Good Luck.