Where do you get your chickens? New to BYC in Nashville area

[kensgirl77]

Hey everyone. I'm in the process of designing my first chicken coop that my family will be building in the spring. I am doing all my research and soaking up all the info I can, but the one thing I can't figure out is where the heck do you get the chickens? I live in Greenbrier, TN just outside of Nashville and I'd love some advice on where to start looking for chickens. Specifically I'd love to have a few silkies. But I'm also going to be looking for other breeds of hen. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[DobieLover]

When I first started out with chickens, I ordered the specific breeds I wanted as day old chicks. I used Meyer hatchery in OH as it was relatively close to NY. They arrived in 3 days and were fine. All survived. However, I did wait until April for a delivery as shipping during extreme weather conditions is dangerous IMO.
Raising chicks is fun and you will get the exact breeds you want. You also get the added benefit of a Marek's vaccination.
Good luck with your new flock!
And welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

There are lots of places to get chickens! Try your local Craigslist, if you have one. That's where I got two young but pretty much grown Silkie (girls). What type of feed stores do you have around you? I know most people have a Tractor Supply. My closest feed store is Orscheln's, though, where I picked up two chicks around the beginning of March this year, and then there's Feldman's Farm and Home about twenty minutes away. I got my other four (but now three) chickens from my aunt, who got them from some farm store I'm not sure on the name. There's also online hatcheries you can order chicks or started pullets from (6+ weeks). What age range are you wanting? Hens already laying? Young chicks? Pullets near the point of lay?
FYI, I'm also not sure if most farm stores carry chicks in the winter. Spring should be a good time to get some!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

While you are planning your coop and run, keep in mind that silkies are extra vulnerable to predation so you'll need to keep them where aerial and terrestrial predators can't get them. Someone I know that raises them calls silkies "hawk bites".

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Most local feed stores will sell chicks in the spring, Tractor Supply Co, Rural King, Agway.. They source their chicks from hatcheries all around. You can save some money going that route, as you don't pay the shipping cost.
You can also go direct to the hatcheries, Meyers, My Pet Chicken, Cackle are all pretty big hatcheries. Keep in mind that the shipping costs for live animals is pretty high, and you have to pick up at the post office. Also, they only guarantee the chicks until they ship. If your postman is rough with the box and shakes them about, you may have losses.
You can also look up local breeders and/or chicken keepers. I know @rjohns39 is in Tennessee, maybe he can help you out there...

The other idea is to get an incubator and hatch your own. Any of the above hatcheries will sell eggs as well, usually cheaper to ship than live animals. Also, locals will probably sell eggs for this purpose as well.

Either way, you will also have to set up a brooder to raise your babies in until their old enough to be able to handle the outside temps on their own, usually about 4-6 weeks.

This website is a great asset and info source! I've learned a lot just being on here and reading! Keep us updated on your chicken journey!!!

Oh... and.....

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

Pop in the Middle Tennessee thread and ask for what you're looking for. There are several breeders in that area. Also you can check in the Tennessee thread as well. I'm uncertain who might have silkies. @cree57i is pretty close to you and has a variety of different breeds. I'm breeding Rhode Island Whites and Barred Hollands.