West Coast Chicks

[Kacey Elle]

Where do people on the western side of the US get their chickens? I'm considering buying chicks for the first time (have gotten only pullets before) and research tells me that the closer the hatchery, the faster the shipping--the faster the shipping, the less chick stress. Let me know any hatcheries that you have used that sent you healthy chicks!

Also, bonus points if anyone knows any reputable place within driving distance of San Jose, CA, that sells chicks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Really depends on the breeds, numbers, quality, etc you want....also, sexed or straight run?
I routinely order from the midwest hatcheries for shipping to the pnw with no issues (have two orders coming first half of Feb).

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Where do people on the western side of the US get their chickens? I'm considering buying chicks for the first time (have gotten only pullets before) and research tells me that the closer the hatchery, the faster the shipping--the faster the shipping, the less chick stress. Let me know any hatcheries that you have used that sent you healthy chicks!

Also, bonus points if anyone knows any reputable place within driving distance of San Jose, CA, that sells chicks!

If anyone local to you would know I'm guessing Sam's Downtown Pet and Feed would. They are brilliant and might(?) get chicks in themselves in the spring. I miss being so close but I still even pick up feed there when I'm in town.

 

[Kacey Elle]

Really depends on the breeds, numbers, quality, etc you want....also, sexed or straight run?
I routinely order from the midwest hatcheries for shipping to the pnw with no issues (have two orders coming first half of Feb).

Good point. Thanks for reminding me to be more specific! It'll be for 20 female chicks. Layer breeds only (or dual purpose but we only use them for eggs), mainly brown eggs but definitely a few EEs and a sprinkling of white eggs will be nice too. It's for a schoolyard flock that is confined in a run for most of the day (350 square feet) and gets out into our little chicken pasture for only about an hour a day. So breeds should be able to handle confinement. In the past two years, we've had Delawares, EEs, RIRs, Red Stars, SLWs, SS, and BR. No need for show quality--our goal is eggs for our cafeteria and fund raising efforts.

If anyone local to you would know I'm guessing Sam's Downtown Pet and Feed would. They are brilliant and might(?) get chicks in themselves in the spring. I miss being so close but I still even pick up feed there when I'm in town.

I love Sam! He's so nice! He does have a 4-H chick sale coming up but they have very limited breeds. This is part of a school project so I have students research chicken breeds to analyze which we should get based on our weather and needs. We are considering going with him but those chicks are $6/each and if we buy from hatcheries it looks a lot cheaper and we'll get to pick exactly which breeds we want....

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Good point. Thanks for reminding me to be more specific! It'll be for 20 female chicks. Layer breeds only (or dual purpose but we only use them for eggs), mainly brown eggs but definitely a few EEs and a sprinkling of white eggs will be nice too. It's for a schoolyard flock that is confined in a run for most of the day (350 square feet) and gets out into our little chicken pasture for only about an hour a day. So breeds should be able to handle confinement. In the past two years, we've had Delawares, EEs, RIRs, Red Stars, SLWs, SS, and BR. No need for show quality--our goal is eggs for our cafeteria and fund raising efforts.



I love Sam! He's so nice! He does have a 4-H chick sale coming up but they have very limited breeds. This is part of a school project so I have students research chicken breeds to analyze which we should get based on our weather and needs. We are considering going with him but those chicks are $6/each and if we buy from hatcheries it looks a lot cheaper and we'll get to pick exactly which breeds we want....

Honestly, with that many chicks you can safely order/ship from any of the major hatcheries

 

[Kacey Elle]

Honestly, with that many chicks you can safely order/ship from any of the major hatcheries

Really? Even if it will take a few days for them to arrive? Excellent! Doo you have any recommendations? I was doing some research and liked Cackle (mainly because of YouTube, I'll admit!).

 

[Huskys]

I am looking for opinions on would anybody put their fully feathered chicks out in the coop without any heat source with the lows in the 30's and highs in the 50's? What is everybodies thoughts on Delaware chicks, I never had them and expecting to get 55 Delaware chicks in Aug but hopefully sooner

 

[Klutch]

Where do people on the western side of the US get their chickens? I'm considering buying chicks for the first time (have gotten only pullets before) and research tells me that the closer the hatchery, the faster the shipping--the faster the shipping, the less chick stress. Let me know any hatcheries that you have used that sent you healthy chicks!

Also, bonus points if anyone knows any reputable place within driving distance of San Jose, CA, that sells chicks!

Depends on what you want, there is Belt Hatchery in Fresno, CA, there's Stromberg in Woodland. One of your feed stores near San Jose. How about Craigs. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/gra?query=chicks#search=1~gallery~0~0

• Pickup in Woodland, CA