Where do you all get your chickens?

[aart]

Seeing the coop is not going to tell you much, and I wouldn't let anyone with chickens near my coop anyway in case they tracked something in on their shoes/clothing. You can't tell by looking if a bird may be carrying parasites or disease.

They seem to be small farms owned by people who also make coops and sell other birds but what if the birds have diseases?

It's definitely a risk.

You need to decide how risk adverse you are, and go forward from there.

Exactly!


ETA: RR caught something I missed, you don't have any chickens yet...so risk is different.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not all adult chickens are disease and parasite ridden. Many are quite healthy. The way I read you post you don't have any chickens yet. If that is the case and you get all your chickens from the same source, your chance of introducing a disease or parasite to your flock they have not developed an immunity to is pretty low, like zero. If I were in your position, wanted to start my flock with point-of-lay pullets, and got them all from the same place I'd go that route. If the chickens are active and running around, not standing around all hunched up and leaking mucus, they are probably pretty healthy. You cannot tell for sure by looking that they don't have a disease or parasite but sometimes you can tell by looking that you don't want to bring them home.

The issue comes when you want to bring in new chickens from a different source. Then you worry about bringing in diseases or parasites. I personally take biosecurity pretty seriously, the only way I add to my flock is by hatching eggs or getting chicks from a hatchery. I did get chicks from a feed store once. I don't go to chicken stocks or auctions. I wear different shoes and usually different clothing if I go to a view a chicken show or anywhere else in public as compared to what I wear when I take care of my chickens.

I think that is a pretty good plan to start your flock. Good luck!

 

[apryl29]

I got my birds from 3 different places at about the same time. I bought a 10 pack of brown egg layers online from Tractor supply, only 2 survived. The day I received them in the mail I bought 6 more from a Tractor Supply store in my area. Two weeks later I bought 4 more birds from a local feed store and 2 weeks after that I picked up 4 eggers from the same place. Not sure if they have the same requirements in other states, but here you have to buy at least 6 chickens at a time.

I'm fine with tsc but they don't get chicks until spring and I'd like them sooner.

I'll keep looking!

Check with your local TSC b/c many of them have chicks right now. Not sure why, but my local store had chicks the past couple weeks. https://www.tractorsupply.com/landi...s.html?cm_re=20170814-_-BANNNER-_- Chick+Days

 

[andreanar]

I agree with @aart on the fact of not letting people near your coop. I got my recent flock as 8-12 week old pullets from a local farm. I was not allowed to go near any breeding pens for risk of me tracking in sickness. They gave me a list of what they had available and I chose my breeds. I was allowed to look from a bit aways at a pen of pullets, but they provided me with shoe covers and hand sanitizer.
I have found having the older birds were not as friendly and tame as when I raised day olds.

 

[Chandler0206]

I'm fine with tsc but they don't get chicks until spring and I'd like them sooner.

I'll keep looking!

Some stores will get chicks in sometime between now and October; and even if your store doesn't get any, you might be able to order through their supplier in October.

 

[apryl29]

I agree with @aart on the fact of not letting people near your coop. I got my recent flock as 8-12 week old pullets from a local farm. I was not allowed to go near any breeding pens for risk of me tracking in sickness. They gave me a list of what they had available and I chose my breeds. I was allowed to look from a bit aways at a pen of pullets, but they provided me with shoe covers and hand sanitizer.
I have found having the older birds were not as friendly and tame as when I raised day olds.

Off topic, your avatar.. is that a hairless cat?! I love hairless cats! I'm insanely jealous right now.
On topic, I agree! I had some day old chicks and they were much more friendly than the ones I got that were just a week or 2 older. I suspect b/c they were just tossed in the bin and not handled at the store that they didn't become familiar w/ humans. I would think it would apply more so w/ even older birds. I've considered getting a bird or 2 for the the 4H kids at the fair, but I'm not sure how my flock would react right now. My kids desperately want a silkie, but I think we have enough... maybe even too many.

Some stores will get chicks in sometime between now and October; and even if your store doesn't get any, you might be able to order through their supplier in October.

TSC has year rounds shipping for chickens, though not all breeds are available at all times. I got mine from there in Feb, but I caution against ordering when it's cold. Of the 11 birds I ordered only 2 survived. Others who have ordered during warmer months have had better success. Also, TSC's chickens ship from Iowa, so if she's in New England she may want to look for a closer hatchery. I'm in Ohio and it took 2 1/2 days from the time my birds were boxed to get to my post office. Meyer Hatchery is in Central Ohio, https://www.meyerhatchery.com/ Not sure if there's any that may be closer to you though.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

We use a local farm ( 1 hour drive ), you call him and tell him when you want to come. He has a web site which lets you know if he has chicks and/or pullets. You get to look at the birds he has for sale and pick your own. We have had great luck with him. I vote for the local person who has excess chickens or breeds and has extras for sale, especially if you are just looking for great eggs and peaceful fun of owning chickens. Good luck with what ever route you choose.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I've got gotten them from tsc and local farms as long as I saw living conditions. Had luck with both. But the ones I raised from babies are the easiest to handle

 

[andreanar]

@apryl29 Yes! I have 2 sphynx cats that are my world. Ignore Archies dirty face, I hadn't washed it yet that day.

 

[apryl29]

@apryl29 Yes! I have 2 sphynx cats that are my world. Ignore Archies dirty face, I hadn't washed it yet that day.View attachment 1114173

Oh my gasp! They are beautiful!!!! I'm twice as jealous now.