Starting a flock

[Eggcessive]

I would buy a good book and read as much as I could on this website. I would not buy off craigslist from an unknown person, period. MyPetChicken does not hatch their chickens--they get them from real hatcheries and charge more for the chicks and shipping. Look up as many hatcheries as you can, maybe you have one in your state where the chicks wouldn't be shipped too far. Meyer Hatchery in Ohio will ship fewer( 3 as minimum,I think) chicks--they shipped 26 to me in April and all are thriving at 12 weeks. With hatchery chicks they come sexed with a 90 % accuracy of getting it wrong. Get breeds that are able to stand cold and hot weather, calm breeds that won't be nuts around your children, and maybe try several colorful breeds that give you pretty eggs. Good luck!

 

[cmom]

I do agree with many of the other posts.

These are my picks of some good reference books:
"Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens", by Gail Damerow, "Raising Chickens For Dummies", by Kimberley Willis and Rob Ludlow. "The Chicken Health Handbook", by Gail Damerow,

I did a lot of research before we got chickens but my DH unexpectedly brought home 6 little RIR chicks. We had been talking about getting some birds. I had some many years ago.

I didn't have anything to put the chicks in so I went out a bought a brooder, feed, feeder, waterer. Since those days my flock have grown to over 100 birds. I have raised them all from chicks and most I have hatched out myself.

It really depends on what you want. The older child may be more interested then your 2 yr old. I love to watch the chicks grow. They are so entertaining as they grow. I would not personally buy any birds off of Craigslist. I do know several good people who do use craigslist to sell their chicks and other birds. Good hatcheries are participants in the National Poultry Improvement Plan where state testers do test the flocks for some diseases. I personally have my birds tested yearly, that way any birds I sell I feel confident about. Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[Circe]

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughtful responses. I will check out some of those books you recommended. DH and I decided that we will start with some pullets, and when we are a little more experienced, we will try some chicks. We don't really have the set up for chicks, right now.

Again, thanks for all the advice.