Where do I get my chickens??
I buy my chickens from hatcheries down states. There was one place selling in Alaska but they never seemed to have the ones I wanted and I hear they are now going out of business. Many friends here in town bought from them though without any problems. A local feed store might have some if you live near a place with feed stores. Just make sure you are getting the breeds you want.
The first hatchery I bought from in 2003 is Sandhill Preservation (http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/). I love that they are preserving heritage breeds. They also have a lot of cool seeds. The down side is that they are so small that while you can see the availability on line you cannot actually place an order. Because of where we live I am an internet junkie. You actually have to print off what you want and mail them a check. They also only send straight run chicks. Most places have earlier spring/summer than us and by the time I start thinking about birds their availability is usually running low. They also often substitute birds if they run out by the time they get your order. If you are a freak about that sort of stuff...don't order from them. They are very mom and pop and I think their substitutions have always been thoughtful given where they were sending the birds. I have also found their birds to be the most plump, healthy and beautiful adults I have ever had. I have done 3 rounds of chicks with sandhill.
The second is of course McMurray Hatchery (http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html). They are probably the largest provider out there for small poultry keepers. They have a huge selection and you can do it all right on line. Their birds are ok. If I had not started with Sandhill I would never know the difference. I have done 3 or 4 orders from them without any problems. You can't beat the convenience or availability. Lots of info on their website about breeds and I like that they show pictures of the chicks.
I tried a place in California called Whelp Hatchery once and it was a disaster. First there was an odd cold snap here when they shipped and I lost a lot in transit. That can't be helped and was not their fault. But even the birds that grew to adults were not up to snuff. I lost more birds that winter than any other year. I don't think any made it through the winter. I am hard core but I don't want to put birds out there I know are going to die. They were the same breeds I always get...just weak and sad. I am sure these birds would be fine in a cush California Coop but they just did not make the grade up here.
This summer I tried a new place called Cackle Hatchery out of Missouri (http://www.cacklehatchery.com/) and so far so good. The chicks are 2 weeks old. All arrived looking really good, but I did lose a few this last week, which is odd. Usually if they make it past the first couple days they are in the clear. I lost all 5 of one breed...one I really wanted of course. And two of another. I also lost 2 turkey chicks and that was really irritating. Could be my set-up. Could be that their Brahmas are not meant to be my Brahmas. All the other birds are doing fine and we seem to have weeded out the weak ones. In retrospect I did realize my box was not hot enough the first night and they got a little chilled. Maybe that set off something.
Non-hatchery Options
I have had people incubate eggs. This involves specialty equipment and fertilized eggs. It is kind of a pain in the butt. Be really careful as they hatch. You are not supposed to help them but under the heat lamp they often get too dry and can't quite make it.
I have on occasion had a hen go broody. I LOVE it when this happens. I have had them hatch and raise their own chicks about five times over the years. This means that I don't have to have a box of chicks stinking up my house for a month. I realized I have one going broody yesterday and I am psyched to see if she can pull it off. You MUST have a rooster for the eggs to be fertile. It is very strange but I have to explain this a lot. Probably a sign of too much abstinence education in schools. You need a boy and a girl to make babies. Hens will lay eggs without a rooster, but they will never hatch.
I have people give me chickens. This is good and bad. They are often old and the person does not have the heart to kill them. If that is the case they should not have chickens in the first place. The older the bird the fewer eggs it lays. Why feed a chicken that does not lay eggs? You are spending money to make poop. McMurray gives a "mystery" chicken with each order. I have a "chicken friend" who gets meat birds and at the end of summer has given me his "mystery" chicken because he does not winter over birds. People also move and give them away. Just know that not all free chickens are ones you want.
Glossary:
Straight Run: Means you get whatever mix of males and females nature intended
Pullet: female chickens
Cockrel: male chickens
Broody: Most domestic chickens do not want to sit on their eggs. They lay them and move on. When a hen goes broody she wants to try to hatch her eggs and will sit on the nest.
Next post...choosing your breeds.
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