Where is best place to buy baby chicks this time of year

[shortgrass]

That's marketing for ya lol... Mine is a Blue Andalusian; I ordered Australorps, SSH, and Anconas... Got me addicted to breeding chicks now! Sneaky, tossing in a sweet male like that

Beautiful Fayoumi! ...Too bad roosters aren't accepted in some places; they really do have great personalities and turn out so many beautiful colors.

 

[donrae]

Lol I love how they do that... Ooh exotic! ...in other words, "We saved it from death and sent it to you, congrats its a boy!"

Yep! And I know folks get other breeds, but the majority seem to be Easter egger cockerels. I just like to warn folks about the male part, cause how many posts do we see on here about folks freaking out cause their free chick is a boy? Well, same with packing peanuts. Ideal is very clear on their website about using them, but folks simply don't read and then are all shocked when they have a dozen Red cockerels to dispose of.

 

[BBQJOE]

I've only ordered from mcmurray once. My free exotic was a turken. Awfully ugly bird it was.

I'm surprised people are still able to order chicks. All my searches led to hatcheries that were all sold out for the season.

 

[Sherol]

I'm a MMM girl, love that hatchery. I've had decent luck with Ideal, but you have to watch the packing peanuts....I don't want those! MMM doesn't do that. Be warned, though, the free "exotic" chick is quite likely going to be a male, so don't accept that offer unless you can keep a rooster.

I ended up with two free birds.. think I got an extra Cuckoo Maran female and the black unidentified bird is still developing so NO idea yet what I have. First time chick mama and went with MMM as well. They were packed well, had them vaccinated and the birds are doing great. They are 6 weeks now and I can't believe I want more chicks. only me in the house and 17 birds.. but there are some cool breeds would love to add to the flock.. lol. Maybe next year. The web site for them will tell you if chicks are available. I ordered the first part of the year.. March maybe.. but mid August was the first date all the breeds I wanted was available. Worked out great as had to get coop and run done and with the triple digit temps we get in Texas was glad I did not have to work through the summer to be ready.

If you are new to chickens.. think a reputable hatchery is the way to go..

 

[OopsChickens]

I have an order from Ideal coming in next month. They were the only ones that had any sebrights

 

[adw11]

I know the rural king has them now idk about if you have any in your area though.

 

[Rewster]

I have ordered from McMurray in the past and was very happy with the chicks I received. The free one I got with my order was a female Blue Cochin and I love her.
I recently placed an order with MPC which brokers with Meyers in Ohio. I had to make some adjustments with my order today and the customer service was flawless. Great doing business with them. Meyers or My Pet Chickens have chicks available now on a limited basis. I'll be getting my new chicks Oct 15. I'll let you know how it turns out but I have high hopes.

 

[shortgrass]

Lol I love how they do that... Ooh exotic! ...in other words, "We saved it from death and sent it to you, congrats its a boy!"

Yep! And I know folks get other breeds, but the majority seem to be Easter egger cockerels. I just like to warn folks about the male part, cause how many posts do we see on here about folks freaking out cause their free chick is a boy?  Well, same with packing peanuts. Ideal is very clear on their website about using them, but folks simply don't read and then are all shocked when they have a dozen Red cockerels to dispose of.

I didn't even know they did that! Packing peanuts...lol that would be a shocker opening that up

Although now I'm thinking, "free dinners?"

I guess if you can house them, its better to grow them up and eat them rather than the likely alternative most male chicks face.

Way to make a buck and save a buck...packing peanuts... Wow!

 

[donrae]

I didn't even know they did that! Packing peanuts...lol that would be a shocker opening that up

Although now I'm thinking, "free dinners?"

I guess if you can house them, its better to grow them up and eat them rather than the likely alternative most male chicks face.

Way to make a buck and save a buck...packing peanuts... Wow!

Sure, for you and I it would be free dinners. But, most folks who make smaller orders aren't in the butchering business and are shocked when they have these cockerels to deal with. they get angry with the hatchery, when it's their own fault for not reading the disclaimer.

 

[OopsChickens]

I am one of those that didn't realize that they pack males in for warmth. I actually just contacted Ideal, and they no longer offer the insurance in order for them to not ship the males. Now the charge $1 for straw to be added instead of the cockerels. The extra dollar is worth it to me so I'm not trying to decipher which chicks are the extras when they come in.