Where to buy baby chicks?

[Nergock]

I am looking to buy 2-3 baby chicks. I see a list of hatcheries here but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or preferences. I live in San Diego, CA. I am leaning towards ISA Brown or Rhode Island Red. Any recommendations of what to get to raise the chicks? Brooder, heater, water feeder, feeder and food? Anything else? Thank you.

 

[suzyq53511]

If you only want three chicks I would use My Pet Chicken. The ordering minimum is 3. most others is 25.

 

[watersoflethe]

Hi I go to school in SD. Nice to meet another SDien

different people have different preference on hatcheries but you should look through them because not many hatcheries will ship as small as 2-3 chicks.

i know my pet chicken does it and nature's hatchery also does it. but i'm not sure what other hatchery. if you want such few chicks you might do better just buying them at a feed shop or off craigslist. good luck they are addicting.

to raise them you will need a brooder with a lamp overhead but it doesn't have to be anything special most cages and boxes will work with a lamp to keep them warm. you need something to give them water that they wont drown in but i would suggest something they can't poop in. same with the food they tend to kick it out and poop in it.

you would need chick starter for the chicks and switch feed as they get older. you would also need to have a coop ready unless they are all going to be house chickens? in which case you should buy some diapers

you should also look thtrough the learning center here its extremely informative.

have fun chickens are extremely addicting

 

[HelenB]

I started with four chicks from a feed store. The brooder was a big cardboard box, which worked until they started flying out, then I moved them to a dog crate. I borrowed a brooder lamp and bought a red bulb to suspend over the box. I was also able to borrow mason jar type feed and dispensers, since they grow out of the chick size so fast. You don't need much to start, it's when you get into coop and run construction that the expenses start to add up!

Have fun!
Helen

 

[gryeyes]

I really think, for that small a flock, you should scout out the feed stores, or check on Craigslist as already suggested.

 

[sandy sea]

I know that there is a Dans Feed store that sells chicks. Also check out Khoots Feed they also sell chicks. My brother bought some from both , he lives in San Diego too.

 

[elmo]

See if you can find a local hobby breeder. There are several advantages to this. First of all, you won't be supporting the industrial farming practices of the big commercial hatcheries. Secondly, you'll frequently be able to look at the parent birds and judge the husbandry conditions the birds are kept in at the breeders (if it seems dirty, or if the birds seem unhealthy, walk away). You'll often be able to get better genetic stock from a breeder since the hatcheries breed for quantity not quality. And lastly, your chicks won't be stressed from shipping.

In my area, there is a Meetup poultry group as well as one on Yahoo. You can try googling for poultry groups in your area. That's a good way to find a local breeder. Good luck!

 

[Nergock]

Thank you everyone. Per everyone's suggestions, I found what I was looking for on CL. Any difference in experience between starting with the 6 week old chicks versus a few days old chicks?

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/grd/1769417350.html

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Started chicks are not as delicate as the newborns, and depending on the age may be ready to go outside if they are fully feathered. Also, you will save some money on keeping them fed and warm during thier early months.

BTW, I live in North County and have some mixed (layer breed) started chicks you can have for free. PM me if interested.

 

[Nergock]

I was going to buy the chicks locally but they don't carry any Buff Orpington. I was thinking of ordering this from MyPetChicken.com. Does anyone recommend getting them vaccinated or not? It's an extra $1 per chick to have them vaccinated against Marek's Disease. Thank you.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Buff-Orpington-p229.aspx