Which hatchery to buy from and how many chicks to buy??

[Willow's Meadow]

Hi I am new to the message boards and chickens. I'm not sure how many chicks I should buy, since this is my first time. I have heard so many good things about Cackle Hatchery so I was going to order from them. I know 15 is their minumial for warmth purposes. But I was thinking I could buy 5 Delaware, 5 Buff Orpington and 5 Brahmas---pullets. But then I was thinking maybe that's too many, since I am new to this. What do you think, should I just order 8 or so from My Pet Chicken? I'm not sure what to do. Also is Cackle a good Hatchery?

 

[wolftracks]

I really like My Pet Chicken. How many? When I ordered in Oct I ordered 25, got 26. I'm not good at moderation.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

It will all depend on how big your coop is for when the grow up. You don't want to crowd your birds because that can cause problems with fighting and feather pulling.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I order all of mine from Cackle. They have sent me some fine birds over the years.

 

[jeremy]

If you're relatively new to chickens I urge you to START SMALL!

I ordered 25 day olds from Murray McMurray, they all arrived in good shape and are thriving today at almost a month old. However, 25 is A LOT.

You don't really realize it when they can fit in your hand... but they grow and they grow quick.

I'd recommend MMcM, but their minimum order is 25. I believe My Pet Chicken and Nature's Hatchery can do very small chick orders. Or you can always try your local feed store.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I've been thrilled with My Pet Chicken. I ordered my first 14 day olds from them and all arrived healthy and happy! I just received my first shipped hatching eggs through them too and they all arrived intact. MPC has the BEST customer service you could ask for too. Can't recommend them highly enough!

 

[felidaet]

Last year was my first year with chickens. I intended to get about 12 but ended up with 18. One turned out to be a roo that we rehomed at about 18 weeks. I had no problem taking care of 17 birds. My coop is large enough for about 20 and my run is large enough for about 50.

I am adding to my flock this year. I have 22 chicks in the brooder. I am building another coop right now (attached to the existing run. I MAY have to expand the run latter. I am going to temporarily divide the run in half. The existing 1 year old flock will use half of it. The new flock will use the other half. WHen the new ones are about 18 weekis old I will remove the temporary divider and merges the two flocks.

We are already talking about adding a "few" more next year.

There are advantages to having birds of different ages. When the oldest birds start slowing down laying because of their age there will be younger ones to keep the egg supply going.

 

[gryeyes]

I started last October with four 2-day old chicks, then before the month was over, had added to them so I eventually had 8. All from a feed store, but specific breeds I felt I wanted. Dual purpose, just because I wanted laying hens, but didn't want chickens bred specifically for laying. One turned out to be an accidental rooster (I had purchased pullet chicks). One of my two dachshunds is a chicken killer, so the 8 were reduced to 7.

In January, I bought 2 laying hens from another BYC member who was down-sizing her flock.

This past February I bought four chicks and 2 ducklings from the same feed store. (Not TSC.)

Then, six weeks later, I bought 2 six-week old bantam cochins from a breeder.

I have considered MyPetChicken for ordering, but did get 3 of the four breeds I wanted to add, from that feed store. That meant I no longer had an order of 3 or 4 chicks to buy from MPC. I'll just have to do without the Buckeye for now.

The city where I live allows a certain number of "livestock" and chickens are in that category of animal. My landlady has 3 sheep on the same acre where I live, so I am restricted - legally - to 13 chickens.

*ahem* Some BYCers term it "chicken math" - notice I'm above the legal limit for poultry. The ordinance refers to "immature offspring younger than sexual maturity" do NOT count against the total number of "livestock."

Well, currently, the six chicks are nowhere near sexual maturity, so I'm okay. And the ducks are Cayugas, all black, so I think of them as "Ninja" stealth ducks nobody can see.

So you need to know how many chickens you should get, legally, how much space you have for them, and how much you're willing to fudge against your local laws.

Check feed stores, first, before ordering from any online hatchery.

 

[Silkiefan]

there's good advice from both sides here... I have two right now... yep, only two hens. I am planning on making it 4-6 but only because I checked with the local ordinances for my town and found out AFTER I ordered 25 meat-birds and had to donate them to our local FFA - or else get busted with a hefty fine. I can legally have only 6 hens in town. (I'm picking up a few more chicks this weekend)
I don't know if you're urban or in the "sticks" so depending on local laws, you may want to keep your flock small for starters. I noticed someone mentioning buying chicks from your feedstore, and I totally agree. That way you can have a few to start out with. I do recommend though, that you buy at least 4 because if they're straight run, GUARANTEED (... my luck has been bad...) you will get a rooster. Also, if you have 3 or 4, if something happens to one, the others wont be lonely.
My advice is start small-ISH : not too few, but not too many...
Oh, and by the way :

 

[Mahonri]

You can go a couple of directions.

Option 1

Make certain you have a coop and run that is large enough for 25..

Then order 25 from McMurray. My first time I ordered the rainbow layers, if I were to do it over again, I would have ordered the Ornamental Layers.
That gives you a variety and you can see which type of chicken you prefer.

After having been through MANY, MANY chickens in the past two years and having decided what I like the best...

Option 2

Buy a good incubator, study the breeds of chickens found on here, read the threads and then order hatching eggs from a reputable breeder.
Some breeders have more than one variety and you could order a "variety pack".

Then you can hatch your own and fill your coop that way.

GOOD LUCK and May God Bless!