Spring 2017 first timers post!

[IdyllwildAcres]

Is hardware store OK to get chicks or should I still seek out breeder

I would order online, better selection no more stress than hardware store birds are shipped too.

Gary

 

[MiniIndyRanch]

I would order online, better selection no more stress than hardware store birds are shipped too.

Gary

x2! Definitely better selection, generally health (at time of arrival) guarantees, and gender guarantees. Of the 3 orders I got from MyPetChicken - 100% arrived alive and well, and 100% were female as ordered. There was 1 breed mix-up, but they offered either a free chick (of equal/lesser value) or an additional chick of the missed breed on my next order.
I have not been a fan of conditions of chicks at my local feed stores (big box, not locally owned).

 

[BeeSavvy1]

My wife and I are Apitherapists and Beekeepers (Don & Deb Tucker). We love the whole idea of sustainable living and the "footprint" we make. We got our little chicks 3 days old. Watching them grow and seeing their personalities develop is awesome. Today they are 16 days old and we are already worrying about the mean old red fox that walks through our yard at times. We are a good while away before moving them to the "Big House" but still concerned about Ole Red and our Tucker's Cluckers.

 

[hamonstbes]

I would order online, better selection no more stress than hardware store birds are shipped too.



Gary

Thanks I'll find breeder than

 

[Lamaremybabies]

I'm not a new flock owner, but I am getting 5 new chicks from My Pet Chicken the second week of April! 1 Buff silkie, 2 silver cuckoo marans, and two easter eggers. I also currently have 1 silkie roo, 2 gold sexlinks, and 2 Plymouth Barred Rocks.

 

[ToriD26]

I'll also be ordering my new flock this spring I don't know what breeds I'm getting yet, I think I've changed my mind at least a dozen times...but I'm looking at easter eggers, australorps, sex-linked, orpingtons, rhode island reds, and marans. I live in a small town in Washington so I'm concerned about shipping chicks from the bigger hatcheries back east (like Meyers or McMurray) so I may go with Dunlap hatchery in Idaho. There's a little smaller breed selection but also less shipping time for the chicks. Does anyone have experience with them?

 

[pioneerchick816]

@ToriD26
I have some of the ones you've mentioned in my first flock (2016). I love my Australorp & Marans! Very calm birds

 

[bramblefir]

I'll also be ordering my new flock this spring I don't know what breeds I'm getting yet, I think I've changed my mind at least a dozen times...but I'm looking at easter eggers, australorps, sex-linked, orpingtons, rhode island reds, and marans. I live in a small town in Washington so I'm concerned about shipping chicks from the bigger hatcheries back east (like Meyers or McMurray) so I may go with Dunlap hatchery in Idaho. There's a little smaller breed selection but also less shipping time for the chicks. Does anyone have experience with them?

I'm in Oregon and have never had any issues ordering chicks from across the country. I have 82 (shh, don't tell my husband) chicks and ducklings coming from Meyer, Ideal, and Cackle this year.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Tell me no....I am considering getting 1 black sex link and one red sex link, and maybe one other breed like RIR or Barred Rock from work in late February when we get our chicks in. That would bring my total chicken numbers up to a whopping 15-16 chickens >.<

 

[Treerooted]

I'll also be ordering my new flock this spring I don't know what breeds I'm getting yet, I think I've changed my mind at least a dozen times...but I'm looking at easter eggers, australorps, sex-linked, orpingtons, rhode island reds, and marans. I live in a small town in Washington so I'm concerned about shipping chicks from the bigger hatcheries back east (like Meyers or McMurray) so I may go with Dunlap hatchery in Idaho. There's a little smaller breed selection but also less shipping time for the chicks. Does anyone have experience with them?

I was going to order mine last weekend, but couldn't make the decision! I think I'm getting closer though!