Starting for the first time?

Hi, and welcome to BYC. We got our buff orpingtons last Oct and they were 11wks old. We paid $7 for them. They were all pullets and we also got one roo. We got them from a guy in Elmo, on the other side of Terrell. We got 13 pullets and one roo. I thought it was a good price because of their age. They were past the critical stage and they were organically fed and kept. The guys place was very clean. We would buy from him again in a heartbeat. He just doesn't have blue, black, or splash orps. DARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I know lots of folks that have started with feed store chicks.

That said, variety is a wonderful thing and sometimes feed stores only have a few different ones.

When it comes time for me to get more chicks, I'll be ordering a variety, either from McMurray or My Pet Chicken.

 

My feed store orders from Cackle and I just told them what chicks and how many I wanted--as did a lot of other people--and then they sent in several orders this spring and we all just picked them up at the feed store. They ordered extras of course to sell in their store. It cost a little more than the hatchery price, but we all could order smaller amounts and they did the leg work picking them up at the post office. So it worked out well for everyone. Very nice chicks by the way!

 

Our feed store doesn't carry chicks unless you specifically order them. I didn't like that I couldn't see the real birds from hatcheries, just the illustrated pictures. So, I scoped around BYC and found a local breeder for birds I really wanted. I paid $2 per chick and they're gorgeous.

Good luck and welcome to BYC.

 

I found a local Hatchery on Craigslist that carried several Silkies. They only had buff available at the time and they were about 2+ weeks old. We paid $6 but they were vaccinated and they included a cup of feed to get us started. (They also threw in some EE chicken eggs they collected in the morning.)

That is the perfect ideal if you want to start small. If you do want to order online, be prepared to have a minimum order of about $25.

I'd like to order some online myself, but I have to find someone to split an order with me. No way hubby would let me bring 25 home!!! LOL

 

The fact that you are in Texas, you might consider Ideal Poultry in Cameron, TX as a source for chicks. They have a wide variety of breeds available during the hatching seasons. There is a minimum amount order for like $20.00 or $25.00. They have an online ordering service that works quite well.

Yes, you can start with chicks from a feed store. Many people do with success. You might be limited on choices though. If buying chicks from a feed store in Texas, chances are the chicks will have come from Ideal Poultry anyhow.

 

i got my 3 buff orps from a feed store, and plus they were vacc. that is a major plus for me cause most people dont make sure thatthey are vacc. and if you get from a private individule you dont know if they are sick or some disease that has been passed down. if you get from a hatchery please make sure you get them vacc cause these days you never know

 

I just got 3, 1 week old dominique chicks at my local feed store on 8/22 for 3.99 each. so far, there totally fine :]

 

We started from the feed store - unfortunately. That was before I found this site, or MyPetChicken.com. We took home 6 - 3 white leghorns and 3 Barred rocks. That was all they had. Then I found out that Leghorns don't make good pets - they are spooky, flighty, and mine have very little personality. The BRs were LOADED with personality - and all Roos. So they had to go. Faced with just the 3 boring Leghorn gals - I ordered 6 little gals from MPC. The shipping and care package is a killer - I ordered about $20 in vaccinated sexed pullets and paid about $60 total! - but you get what you want AND they are 90% guaranteed to be pullets. And if you order 25, you DON'T have to pay the extra $25 small chick care package.