Timing for starting a flock

[Percheron chick]

Your local farm and feed stores will start receiving chicks anyway. They all source their chicks from the large hatcheries usually the closest one. They get a huge price break because they order 1000's over the season. Your price will be comparable to what you would pay ordering directly from the hatchery. Buy as soon as you can so they are producing by last summer.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I had very good experience buying Welsummers advertised as pullets from a local farmers' co-op. Welsummers can be sexed fairly reliably at birth. Even so I bought about 50% more than I wanted because I figured that some would be males (which I would have gotten rid of). Turns out they were all pullets, so I ended up with more than I wanted.

 

[MissChickaletta]

I have reached out to several local farms, hatcheries and individuals because I would rather buy locally. Two of two farms have not contacted me back, 1 of three hatcheries has not contacted back and the two that did do not sex their birds and the individuals I've spoken with have been very helpful but timing is the issue.

This being my first go at chickens I would like them to be social for us as I'm sure that makes it more enjoyable.

It really seems like the mail order hatchery is the way to go (at least for me) because you get what you want, when you want. Hopefully the sexing turns out well but nothing is guaranteed.

 

[MissChickaletta]

I have found really great luck with Craigslist in my area. I have looked for specific breeds or just general term of chicken. Found to great chick sources. Both were in the country one was a serious hobbyist starting to make her own chicks. The other was a person starting a sustainable farm type business as a second job and gets his day old locally and uses a local new farmer for in state non-GMO feed. What I liked about this is I could get some nice breeds even a rare one (Cream Legbar) without the extreme price - just get two at a time so I wasn't two overwhelmed with having all at once - and I got to check out the establishment and see their stock and how they are kept before I had to decide to buy. One was in state and the other a neighboring state. Neither of the locations were over 1.5 hours drive and I still saved in cost of gas versus the very expensive shipping costs of a hatchery. Good luck! I just got my last two and have now finished off my backyard flock of six chickens.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sweet. Perfect hobby for some father/son bonding. You can be teaching him and mentoring him, and he'll never even know that he's learning. He'll just be enjoying. are you planning to make your own coop? Yet an other teaching opportunity for him!!! Glad you placed an advance order. What breeds? How many?

 

[VHoff]

make sure you ask for no "Packing Peanuts" unless you want several cockerels.

What does that actually mean? I'm not familiar with the term in this context.