Comments on Urban Chickens Network blog: What if you don't want 25 chicks?

We got lucky in that we got three pullets on our f...

2009-06-09T12:22:25.737-07:00

We got lucky in that we got three pullets on our first try from the local feed store (Half Moon Bay), but several other families we know got at least one cockeral in their batch. The store claims 90% accuracy, though, and we're happy with our experience so far.

One family we know got three birds from the same store, then returned the two cockerals only to get _two more_ cockerals! They've given up on that store...

1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Ameraucana, & 1 Buff Orp.......

2009-06-08T23:45:28.541-07:00

1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Ameraucana, & 1 Buff Orp....all from Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel. We called ahead a few times to find out what breeds they had in stock.

MPC!

2009-06-08T20:32:49.156-07:00

MPC!

I think MyPetChicken can only send orders of 3 to ...

2009-06-08T20:15:21.136-07:00

I think MyPetChicken can only send orders of 3 to large cities though. I don't live near a distribution hub so I would still have to order 25.

When we first started looking for chicks it was to...

2009-06-08T16:20:39.222-07:00

When we first started looking for chicks it was too late in the year to get them at a seed store and we are only allowed two chickens here (or so we were told by our neighbor who has chickens), so no mail-ordering chicks.

We found some chicks via Craig's List but 3 of our 4 turned out to be roosters. The guy said he'd accept any roosters back (and we assumed we'd be sending 2 back anyhow), but we gave them to my MIL instead because her neighbors were complaining that they missed the crowing after her old rooster passed.

Next, we bought young hens via Craig's List, one for ourselves and two for my MIL. Unfortunately, one of my MIL's still ended up developing into a rooster -- though an absolutely gorgeous one that she's very proud of.

And the last two times we've bought chicks for us & family we bought sexed chicks through the local feed & seed store. Hopefully no more sneaky boys!

Here in the SF Bay Area we have purchased chicks f...

2009-06-08T10:34:21.398-07:00

Here in the SF Bay Area we have purchased chicks from two different feed stores.
In each case we have called ahead to find out what type they had in store finding at different times: Barred Rock, NH Red, RI Red, Buff Orpington, Leghorn, Araucana, Astralorp, Wyandotte, .... you get the idea. We just waited until they had a mix of chicks on hand that we liked at the time.

Got our first chicks (four barrred Rocks and four ...

2009-06-08T08:25:02.080-07:00

Got our first chicks (four barrred Rocks and four black sex-links) from a hardware/feed/garden store.

Second two came from a friend with an accidental clutch of phoenix/Japanese bantam crosses.

Last six (Speckeld Sussex) came from an ad on Craigslist. Woman who wanted 3-4 chicks ordered 25 from McMurray and easily sold the rest on Craigslist, a great place to find or sell chicks/chickens.