Each spring (or Chick Days as we call it), our thoughts turn to buying chicks. Whether we are expanding our existing flock or just starting out with chickens for the first time, getting a few chicks is the best way to grow your flock. On the other hand, adding pullets or grown hens can bring a host of potential problems – like the risk of transmitting infectious diseases to your other chickens. Not knowing the exact age of the birds, their health histories or information on their previous diet and care are additional challenges. Here are some tips to get your Chick Days going in the right direction.
During Chick Days, Turn to Your Local Feed Store First
Purchasing older chickens from a swap or fair also means that you could be buying someone else’s problem. The egg eaters, bullies, poor layers, etc. are likely what is going to be for sale – people don’t generally sell their sweetest hen or best layer. If you are looking for a specific breed of chicken, then turning to an online breeder or hatchery might be your only option. But when buying chicks to fill a backyard coop, your local feed store is the best place to start. Shipping just a few chicks from a breeder or hatchery puts the chicks more at risk of being chilled or injured during shipping, whereas feed stores order chicks by the hundreds so they are kept much warmer in the shipping boxes from all the communal body heat inside. Your local feed store will also carry breeds that are appropriate for the area where you live: the more cold-hardy breeds in the northern states, heat-tolerant breeds if you live in the south. While most chickens do just fine in moderate heat as well as extreme cold, there are some breeds that do better in one climate versus the other.
Choosing the Right Chicken Breed and Sex of Your Chickens
Hatcheries are able to sex most chicken breeds before shipping, and feed stores tend to order mostly female chicks. When breeds aren’t sexed, they will be labeled as “straight run” which means that males and females are mixed in that lot. If you are only wanting hens, avoid the “straight run” bins!
When selecting the best chickens for your coop, keep in mind that feed stores tend to carry the more popular breeds that are good layers and have nice temperaments for the family flock. These include Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, and Rhode Island Reds, to name a few. In recent years, due to customer demand, feed stores have offered more “exotic” breeds such as Easter Eggers, Cochins, Brahmas, and even Bantams and Silkies. Reputable feed stores, such as Blue Seal Farm & Home, will only order chicks from hatcheries with NPIP certification to ensure their health. In addition, many hatcheries vaccinate the chicks against coccidiosis and/or Marek’s Disease before shipping them—be sure to ask!
Watch the Chickens Before You Choose
- When you arrive at the feed store during Chick Days ready to choose your chicks, it’s a good idea to stand and watch them for a while.
- Conscientious feed store employees will monitor the chicks during Chick Days and remove any that look sick, but it’s still a good idea to take a minute to observe them on your own.
- Most feed stores won’t allow customers to handle the chicks before purchase, for safety and health reasons, and many often keep the chicks in stock tanks inside a corral or tiered brooders. But by observing them before picking out the ones you want, you have a better chance of going home with the strongest and healthiest chicks.
- You’ll want chicks that are moving around, peeping softly, and eating and drinking. Although chicks do sleep at various times during the day, it’s best to avoid choosing a chick that seems lethargic or doesn’t react to noises or their environment. This chick could just be tired, but this behavior could also be an early sign of illness.
- Identify the specific chicks you are interested in and then ask the feed store employee to catch them for you. It’s a good sign if the targeted chick is hard to catch! Fast-moving chicks are generally healthy and have recovered from the shipping. Once the chick is caught, she will likely chirp loudly but should calm down fairly quickly. Take a minute to look the chick over before it’s put in the box. The chick’s eyes should be alert and clear, and the chick should make eye contact with you. Runny, crusty or cloudy eyes aren’t a good sign. Nostrils should be dry. The chick’s beak should line up correctly.
- Check that the chick’s legs are straight and the chick can stand normally without her feet being splayed. Her toes should be flat and not curled.
- The last thing you need to check is the chick’s vent. The vent should be clear, with no feces caked on it. Stress or temperature fluctuations can cause this potentially fatal condition commonly referred to as “pasty butt”, so if you do see any chicks with pasted up vents, the feed store employee should immediately remove the chick and clean up the poop with warm water. Chicks with pasty butts can recover and live long healthy lives, but it’s probably best to leave that chick and choose another.
Ready to Pick Up Your Chicks?
Now that you know how to find the best chicks, it’s time to go out and get them! But before you bring them home, it’s important to understand how to properly care for them and help them grow into healthy chickens. Our blog How to Raise and Care for Baby Chicks: Essential Guide for Beginners is the perfect place to learn how to do just that. The other thing you’ll need to consider when you get your chicks during chick days is what to feed them. Our site will show you a wide variety of feeds and help you choose the best nutrition to nurture your new flock.
