Treasure Valley Idaho any Buff Orpingtons?

[hckyguy77]

Hey all so I will be new this year to Chicken raising and would rather not hatch any eggs but just get some chicks when they are tiny and raise them to adult hood for egg laying hens. I am looking for Buff Orpingtons and hopefully someone that could help me with some things about raising them. I am trying to find feed, but would rather not go to the store and buy some feed from like Zamzows, but looking online I get way to confused when people start throwing 50 ingredients into a mix because I never understand why. I would rather go organic and non GMO as is my point for healthier eating. They will have a caged area but as I learn how this goes and how they act I hope they will free range the yard for bugs and treats while I also expect to give them scraps of what I read others give for treats. Thanks for all the help, Im not looking to get eggs right now because I still need to build or buy a coop that will house these animals but will plan according to get things started. Also does anyone know the ordinances of Kuna IDAHO as I can't find any and wonder if that means there isn't one.

 

[mallege]

Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell (459-9088) is probably the best bet. They will have sex links and some others next Tuesday. They will be hatching Buff Orpingtons but I'm not sure of the dates.
I know there was someone on here from Kuna.

 

[hckyguy77]

Thank you. Also so as I wonder through college as a 24 year old and take biology classes, are antibiotics really necessary or is it possible to live disease free without shoving antibiotics into the chickens. Its mixed feelings, like with polio in humans yeah its good but I havent gotten a flushot every year and I do pretty fine without it....suggestions or ideas

 

[mallege]

For new chicks, Dunlap Hatchery does give the option of Mareks Vaccine for a few cents more.

I don't know enough yet about antibiotics, treatment versus overtreatment. I am hesitant about overusing antibiotics and using the wrong kinds of antibiotics, yet I wouldn't want to wait too long if they are truly needed.

Good Luck..