Questions from a new member in Boston

[JesseG1213]

Hello everyone!

My name is Jesse and I'm a current student at Boston University. While I don't plan on raising birds myself (I don't have the time or space living on campus), I've become very interested in the logistics of raising backyard chickens. My first question, and reason for posting in this forum, is about how people get their birds in the Boston area. If you buy grown chickens (8+ weeks from what I've read), where do you buy them from? If you buy chicks or hatching eggs, where are stores or breeders in the area that sell them? Thanks a ton for taking the time to answer my novice questions. I look forward to hearing back from you all!

Edit: If there's a better forum to post these questions in, please direct me there! I don't want to be that guy that posts everything in the wrong place

 

[cookfamilyfarm]

Hi, Jesse, I live in Missouri. Although I'm not from Boston I can tell you that here some farmers post on this site, and some on craigslist. With craigslist you just punch in what you are looking for and it will come up. Sometimes ,you can look under farm and garden. I know Boston is famous for there farmers market, so I would assume that if you go there you would be able to buy farm fresh eggs and that's the people I would talk to. Also, if there is any type of sale barn for livestock or auction is another way. A lot of the older generation will not get on a computer and still advertise through the paper. One of my favorite ways to buy is to buy day old chicks from a hatchery. Most hatcheries in the U.S. will ship these chicks to anywhere in the U.S.. They will come through the U.S. postal service. If you can find a hatchery that is reputable and closer to Boston as opposed to California it helps. These day old chicks will be 2 - 3 days old once they reach you and need water and food immediately. Most of these same hatcheries will send pullets through the mail also. (Pullets= an Adult hen that hasn't begun to lay yet.) Pullets that are shipped come with a hefty price on shipping. You can punch in hatcheries in your area and they will have an online catalog as well as a paperback that they can send you. I think the Boston farmers market is a good place to start to find a local farmer. Jeff

 

[keesmom]

For starters you can get in touch with Gypsylion (Khrysti) in Somerville. She connects city dwellers with local breeders for eggs, chicks and pullets. See this post

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...from-yardbirds-backyard-chickens-in-boston-ma

If you have a car and don't mind a drive there's Dodge Grain in Salem NH. They order a variety of sexed LF breeds, straight run bantams and ducklings. No minimum on chicks/ducklings if you want to go the chick route. They also have started pullets. Here is the link to their poultry page.

http://www.dodgegrain.biz/content.aspx?cid=6

 

[JesseG1213]

Thanks for your help guys!! I really appreciate it I'll get looking into all of this immediately