Advice on Buying First Chicks

[North_FL_Coops]

We’re planning on getting three chicks to start our feathered family and was wondering which avenue would be best for starting out. I’ve read I can get sexed chicks at Tractor Supply for a reasonable price, but I was curious if buying from online/local hatcheries would be better.

The one thing I’ve noticed is that buying sexed chicks from local/online hatcheries seems to be fairly expensive. Also, some of the online places require a minimum purchase of five or ten chicks.

We’re wanting to start small and really only have limited coop space (picked up an Omlet for “cheap” and don’t want to overcrowd).

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

Edit: I'm in North Florida, if that matters.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you can find some place local like a farm I would recommend that. If you go the Tractor Supply route, be warned they are pretty notorious for mislabeling breeds. They get their birds from large hatcheries just like you would if you ordered chicks by mail. If there is another farm supply store near you I would look there first. I used to have pretty good luck with IFA (although I once got some brown Leghorns instead of Blue-Laced Red Wyandottes haha). Just depends what is available in your area. Cal Ranch and Murdoch’s also sell chicks.

 

[North_FL_Coops]

If you can find some place local like a farm I would recommend that. If you go the Tractor Supply route, be warned they are pretty notorious for mislabeling breeds. They get their birds from large hatcheries just like you would if you ordered chicks by mail. If there is another farm supply store near you I would look there first. I used to have pretty good luck with IFA (although I once got some brown Leghorns instead of Blue-Laced Red Wyandottes haha). Just depends what is available in your area. Cal Ranch and Murdoch’s also sell chicks.

Good to know that about TS. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Noraaaaa]

https://meyerhatchery.com/ is a favorite for me! They are located in OH, but they can ship. The minimum is 3 chicks, but I would try to order 4 if you are shipping a longer distance, just in case. Shipping is 15, chicks are a good price. If you don't care to much about breed, then TC may be fine! I have had some wonderful hens from there! @BlindLemonChicken had great advice as well!

 

[North_FL_Coops]

https://meyerhatchery.com/ is a favorite for me! They are located in OH, but they can ship. The minimum is 3 chicks, but I would try to order 4 if you are shipping a longer distance, just in case. Shipping is 15, chicks are a good price. If you don't care to much about breed, then TC may be fine! I have had some wonderful hens from there! @BlindLemonChicken had great advice as well!

Many thanks for the suggestion!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Pros and cons with any option. Personally I don't want to deal with the possibility of opening up a box of dead chicks, so I'd rather pay the feed store to deal with that knowing they'll mark up the price a bit to cover shipping costs. Can the wrong chicks end up in the wrong bin? Sure (best counter to that would be to know what the breeds you are interested in look like as chicks, to minimize misidentification). The hatchery can also accidentally mail you the wrong chicks too. But having the chicks right in front of you gives you an opportunity to see them first hand and refuse any that seem off for any reason.

 

[North_FL_Coops]

Pros and cons with any option. Personally I don't want to deal with the possibility of opening up a box of dead chicks, so I'd rather pay the feed store to deal with that knowing they'll mark up the price a bit to cover shipping costs. Can the wrong chicks end up in the wrong bin? Sure (best counter to that would be to know what the breeds you are interested in look like as chicks, to minimize misidentification). The hatchery can also accidentally mail you the wrong chicks too. But having the chicks right in front of you gives you an opportunity to see them first hand and refuse any that seem off for any reason.

That’s great advice, mate. I hadn’t considered losing chicks in transit. I appreciate it.

 

[Cindy in PA]

https://meyerhatchery.com/ is a favorite for me! They are located in OH, but they can ship. The minimum is 3 chicks, but I would try to order 4 if you are shipping a longer distance, just in case. Shipping is 15, chicks are a good price. If you don't care to much about breed, then TC may be fine! I have had some wonderful hens from there! @BlindLemonChicken had great advice as well!

I love Meyer, but the 8 chicks I ordered for this week had shipping costs of $65 not $15. Don't know any place that is only $15. I hadn't ordered online for a few years & ended up canceling as I got what I wanted from my local feed store.

 

[Noraaaaa]

I love Meyer, but the 8 chicks I ordered for this week had shipping costs of $65 not $15. Don't know any place that is only $15. I hadn't ordered online for a few years & ended up canceling as I got what I wanted from my local feed store.

Oh wow! Mine has always been around 15! We are pretty close to the hatchery so IDK why that is like that!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any advice is appreciated!

Many places have minimums above three. So find your state chat thread in the "Where am I? Where are you!" section of this forum and chat with your neighbors. Try to find someone willing to split an order. Or see what they have on hand.

Do you have to have baby chicks? They can be really hard to sex. You could try to find POL pullets. Point Of Lay pullets will cost a lot more but you don't have to buy feed to get them to POL and you can avoid some brooder and brooding costs. Since you only want 3 it might not be that bad of a way to go. Your neighbors may have some. With POL pullets you should know that they are pullets. With most sexed pullets from a hatchery there is about a 90% chance they will be sexed correctly.

No matter what you try someone can tell you of something that might go wrong. I'm thinking specifically of the comment on Tractor Supply but mistakes can be made at any feed store, shipping from any hatchery, or from your neighbors. That's just the nature of human beings, mistakes can be made. If I could find what I wanted at Tractor Supply or any other feed store I'd be willing to go that route. It does help if you know what you are looking for.

Is there a Facebook or other local chat group dealing with chickens you can join and chat with them? There are some around.

If you can get over the feed store taboo chat with someone there and see if they have a bulletin board where you can post a notice. You might ask if someone is willing to split an order if the feed store has a minimum purchase limit.

You might call your local extension office and chat with them. Tell them what you want and see if they can offer help. Like everything else some are better than others but I think it is worth a call.

Good luck!