Where can I get 4 Rhode Island Reds???

[dannyj]

I'm wanting to buy 4 Rhode Island Red female chicks to brood. I can't seem to find a place to buy only 4. All the places I've checked require a minimum of 25 chicks. Does anyone know where I can buy only 4 female chicks?

 

[N&MSchroeder]

My Pet Chicken will send 4 chicks or check your local feed store to see if they are available.

 

[BeccaOH]

Try a feed store. I'm working with my local feed store to do pre-orders and bring chicks in early April. We don't have an order minimum.

I have gone with a friend to combine and get the 25 count.

I've driven to Meyer Hatchery to pick up just 8.

Try My Pet Chicken, but I think you pay extra for shipping such a low count.

 

[PotterWatch]

I just recently saw on Cackle Hatchery's website that the too are offering smaller orders of 5 or 10. You might check there.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
Where do you live?

 

[terrilhb]

Don't know if you know or not. But RIR's are not usually good broody hens. I asked the Hatchery I got mine at they said not so good and I also asked on here and they said so too. I hope if you get some you have better luck than I have. I have 11 RIR hens. None have gone broody.

 

[blueseal]

Quote:
rhode island reds are not the broody type. but they lay nice big brown eggs.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
rhode island reds are not the broody type. but they lay nice big brown eggs.

I also have 10 RIR's. None have gone broody but mine are only 11 months old. I wish they would go broody but as mentioned they normally don't.

 

[Kaneke]

DannyJ --- terminology here --- do you want hens which will brood chicks?

or do you mean you want baby chicks so you can raise them in a brooder yourself ?

several who answered you, are using that first meaning; and they are correct in a general sense; RIRs and Production Reds are far less likely to "go broody" and want to hatch their eggs

I rather suspect you mean the second meaning -- you want to hand-raise them

if so, ask about temperament --- and choose a breeder of the chickens, rather than a hatchery --- I say this because my aunt's feed-store-co-op RIRs (years ago so probably true RIRs not production hens) -- were aggressive, pecked to wound, and seemed to hate humans

of course, they were treated like livestock, little human interaction other than egg-gathering and broadcast-on-the-ground feeding

 

[FMAFarms]

Here's a list of the hatcheries that do a minimum of 3 chicks:

mypetchicken.com
chickensforbackyards.com
meyerhatchery.com

I like Meyer Hatchery. Rhode Island Red female chicks (pullets) cost $2.53 each for 10 or less, and they are available starting 2/28.