Pooling orders to make hatchery minimums?

[MilburnCreek]

Forgive me if this is posted in the wrong forum; nothing else seemed "on target."

So, I posted this on a Vermont message board:

"I am planning on ordering some chickens from McMurray to be delivered April 15, but they have a 15 chick minimum and I only want 6. If anyone wants to go in with me to reach the 15 minimum, I live in Chester and will be happy to deliver a reasonable distance (1 hr) upon arrival."

Then I realized I certainly can't be the only one with this dilemma. Is there a forum or board, here or anywhere, that is organized specifically to facilitate people pooling their orders for chicks?

 

[Ribh]

What a good idea!

 

[keesmom]

You could ask on your state thread, though it hasn't been too active lately. Or even the NH thread. If you do order with others see if they can mark the chicks as many breeds look similar.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/vermont.39326/page-88
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-hampshire.357963/page-211

You could order 15 to have extras, in case something happens to the ones you planned on, then sell the surplus pullets. Or get into raising meat birds. I only want 6 pullets from them also, so I got a couple of breeds as straight run. The cockerels will go to the freezer.

 

[paneubert]

I am in Washington state, but had the same idea as you. I posted on a couple local Facebook based chicken groups. People didn't get back to me as fast as I wanted, so I just put in an order for 25 chicks 5 each of 5 breeds. Now I have time to find buyers for the extras. Not shipping until February. Or course right after I ordered I got some facebook replies. Haha.