Urban Pioneer

• Feb. 8, 2006 - Chickens

Where is the best place to get chickens from? I know their are hatcheries, but they usually have a minimum of a couple dozen and all I need are 4-6, maybe a couple more in case of casualties. Just want to know where you get your chickens from!

Thanks

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• Feb. 8, 2006 - Chickens

Posted by Greenberry

I always ordered mine from the hatchery; I like lots of chickens. Maybe you could split an order with a neighbor? Sometimes the feed stores around here have chicks in the spring; you could go by and ask if they will have them. Not much choice there, though, usually just Rhode Island Reds or some sort of sex-linked laying breed.

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• Feb. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OurLittleHomestead

We are looking at McMurray Hatcheries....you can order now--and even pick when they are delivered...! The local feed store will have them, but not til April--! We'll keep them in the house (contained!) for a while when we get em--mid / late Feb., but by April (when we could get them from the local feed store..) we could have them outside already.....

they have a great (Meat n Eggs) package deal, if you will---10 layer hens and 15 butchering chickens.... :)

FYI
Lis

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• Feb. 8, 2006 - McMurray

Posted by Anonymous

We ordered from McMurray hatchery last year. And have friends that have used them for several years. We lost several, but it was our fault (who knew you don't really need a heat lamp in August?) We were very pleased with them. The post office will call you when they come in and a man from ours even met me on a Sunday afternoon so they wouldn't have to sit there until Monday.

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• Feb. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by HaphazardHomesteader

Hi Kay,

We got our chicks at the feed store. Here in Oregon they start getting them in February and continue carrying them through May, so you might call and ask your locals. They also have hatchlings and ones that are a month or so old, don't need as much attention (and not quite as tempting to the cats).

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• Feb. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by motherearth

McMurray is what I keep hearing (I'm watching to see what others suggest, as I'm learning this too.)

I've heard to be careful of the feed store, because you don't know whether your getting Roosters or hens? (I think, it's called second run, or something?)

But I'm not entirely sure.....

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• Feb. 10, 2006 - hatcheries

Posted by mullerslanefarm

I'm a Murray McMurray fan also. They are located in NW IA. I have had them ship chicks to IA, IL & NC.

I've purchased chicks from the feed store also. Ask them where they got them from. If they are from Cackle, back away quickly. I know of folks that have gotten fine birds from Cackle and an equal number of folks that have gotten burned from them. I've been in the latter group.

I've ordered over $300 of heritage turkeys from Cackle. Received only half my order. All were dead within 2 days. It took nearly 3 weeks for me to catch up with the owner/manager (to return emails and phone calls). She denied having sent half the order (until I faxed the pick list). Then she blamed it on our brooder for the death of the other chicks. We had just successfully brooded a batch of our own poults prior to getting Cackles and successfully brooded poults received from McMurray.

Our feed store won't even order from Cackle any more. Too many chicks die in transit or within a day or two and they are not refunded. The good thing about getting chicks from a feed store is you can usually pick out the healthier ones. Some feed stores require you to order your birds before hand, other feed stores will order a bunch and offer them.

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• Feb. 12, 2006 - Chickens

Posted by Providence

McMurray for large orders, but your local feed store should begin taking orders for less numbers of chicks very soon.
A "straight-run" means the chicks are not gendered for you, but call around because some feed places will gender the chicks for you for a slightly extra cost.
Have fun!
Allison C.

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Urban Pioneer

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