Pick up chicks vs mailing them

[SkyKng6154]

New to the chicken world. Research done. Looking to get a flock of 4-6 (half Rhode Island Reds and half Barred Rocks). Looking for stats/experience with chicks being mailed. Read that some may not make the journey. If I get 6 mailed, would it be safe to say that 2 may not make the journey or be stressed to the point they may not make it to be old enough to get to the coop? I live within an hour of hatchery. Would picking up the chicks make the survivability rate higher so I could buy less chicks? Man, I don't know who's more excited, me or the kids! Thanks in advance!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

First of all...

If I lived within an hour of a hatchery....Road Trip!!!

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I've done both. My first mail order was this year back in March from MPC, it was nerve racking and the waiting was difficult...hoping and praying they survived the journey. All arrived alive and well, I was thrilled! One died a week later, from unknown causes......most likely stress from the mailing process. I love ordering what I want, so I get a variety. I end up picking up a few from TSC every year, I've never had any die, but I don't get the variety...just what they might have at that moment. If you live only an hour away from a hatchery....If I were you, I would drive that hour to get them and yes you'll get a better survival rate then shipping. The main point is that sometimes some will die from unknown causes no matter what you do.

 

[SkyWarrior]

from Montana!

Most hatcheries add a couple extra, but to be on the safe side with such small numbers, I'd drive there. An hour is nothing.

 

[OHhappychicks]

And

from me also!! I agree with everyone else. I have done both. Mailed from murray mcmurray. Everyone was fine, only lost one, don't know from what, at about 1week old. This past sunday, went to mt healthy, about 1 1/2 hrs away and picked up my 17 new babies. (I ordered 16 and they gave us an extra mystery chick!)

I really wanted to go with M. MC. but minimum order is 25 and I didn't want that many, so got what I wanted from mt. H. Everyone is doing great!

Lively and happy. We took 3 of my grandchildren with us. they loved it! They each got to take turns holding the box. Were very careful with them. So picking them up does have a lot of advantages!

 

[SkyKng6154]

THANKS all for the wonderful intel, been a long time since I went on a road trip for chicks!!!

 

[Laurie's Silkies]

Absolutly driving an hour is better than shipping them.Think about it- a quiet ride home in a box in a car or a 3 day journey being bounced around with the USPS? I drove 1 hour last evening to a reputable breeder to get 7 day old polish chicks. they slept peacefully during the ride home. No stress whatsoever. All are doing so well. It also seems to me that chicks that are not shipped have far less pasty butt.

 

[elmo]

I was very lucky. It turned out I had a chicken breeder right in our own neighborhood, a five minute car ride away!

 

[nelgkel]

are we there yet?? LOL I would DEFINITELY be driving if it were me!! AND being a homeschooling family I would be calling to ask if we could get an educational tour!! That would be very cool to be that close to a hatchery. We are fortunate and have a chicken farmer here locally, but he does ship in his pullets... 10 minute drive home/no stress = very healthy chickens.


Welcome to BYC

 

[Mervin]

SkyKng6154

Although I'm a couple hours north and west, I'm sure you'd be able to find those breeds within driving distance. I recently made the same decision and I'm now very glad that I picked mine up. I got some from a local feedstore and some from a breeder. In the case of the feedstore chicks, I was able to make sure none that I was getting were pasted up before I ever got them and that they looked lively when we got them. In the case of the breeder, I also got to see the parent stock and how somebody with significantly more experience managed their flock. It was definitely a very positive experience that I wouldn't have had I if I'd chosen the mail order route.

I think you should be able to find what you're looking for somewhat locally. I'd bet there are breeders advertising on Craigslist in Lancaster, Reading, or Jersey. You'd just have to watch for a while. Although I don't have any personal experience with them, there is a Reich's Poultry Farm near Lancaster and York that advertises those breeds and I'm sure there are many others as well.