Raising Chickens: Where to Buy?

The Local Feed/Pet Store

Variety:  Your local feed store is, in all likelihood, not going to have a large variety of breeds available.  Usually, there will be between one and five, and these will usually be American breeds like Plymouth Rocks.  If you’re just looking for an all-purpose flock of chickens, then this will most likely meet your needs quite well.

Number:  One of the main advantages of purchasing your new chicks at the feed store is that you can usually buy as many or as few as you want.  Therefore, if a small flock is your ultimate objective then the feed store will likely be your best option.

Sex:  Most feed stores are going to be selling chickens as “straight run,” which basically means that it’s a toss-up as to how many hens and how many roosters you will get in the batch that you buy.  While this often means that the little ones are cheaper, it also means that in a batch of ten chickens you might end up with ten roosters, or ten hens.  Some stores, however, will have their chickens sexed, but this often means that they will be a little more expensive as a result.   

Convenience:  One of the major advantages of purchasing your chicks at a feed store is the fact that you can take them home the same day, rather than waiting for them to arrive in the mail.  What’s more, you’ll know for certain that all of them are alive and well.

A Hatchery 

Variety:  The greatest advantage or purchasing chicks from a hatchery is the enormous variety of breeds from which you can choose.  From the all-purpose to the exotic, most hatcheries provide at least twenty different breeds, and some offer over one hundred.  So, if want a flock with a lot of variety, or if you have a specific breed in mind, this route is probably the best for you.

Number:  A drawback  of purchasing from a hatchery is that they usually require a purchase of at least twenty five chicks.  This is to ensure that they stay warm enough during shipping to arrive safely.  However, if you don’t want that many, then you should probably consider looking at your local feed or pet store.

Sex:  Another major advantage of purchasing from a hatchery is that they provide several different options regarding sexing.  You can buy all hens, all roosters, straight run, or any combination thereof.  Be aware, however, that an order of all hens will be more expensive than either straight run or roosters.  However, if you want a flock of laying birds, then this is probably the best option for you.

Convenience:  Perhaps the greatest drawback of the hatchery is the lack of convenience.  You will often have to wait for at least a couple of weeks before the chicks are delivered, and often you will have to pick them up at the post office once they arrive.  However, even if some of the birds arrive in ill-health, most reputable hatcheries will provide you with either a refund or replacements. 

Ultimately, your decision on where to purchase your next batch of chicks will depend on your own individual needs.  I hope, however, that the information in this article will make your choice a little easier to make.