Where Can I Buy A Live Chicken? Your Guide To Purchasing Live Poultry

For many backyard chicken keepers, purchasing baby chicks is the preferred method for starting or expanding a flock. The convenience of buying day-old chicks that can be raised at home is hard to beat. However, sometimes buying started pullets or mature chickens can be the better option. So where can you buy a live chicken if you want to skip the chick stage? Let’s explore the options.

Why Buy Started Chickens?

While adorable fuzzy chicks are fun, there are some advantages to getting older birds

• No special brooder setup needed. Chicks require heat lamps, chick starter feed, and extra attention. Older birds can go straight into the coop.

• Egg laying starts sooner. Pullets begin laying eggs weeks or months before chicks are ready to do so. Mature hens lay right away.

• Sex is known. No guessing whether chicks are pullets or cockerels. You get only hens.

• Breeding ability, Mature roosters can be immediately used for natural breeding programs,

• Reduced mortality. The most vulnerable time for birds is over, when they lose chicks most often.

So if these benefits of getting started chickens appeal to you, where are some places to buy them?

Local Farm Stores

When the time comes, many farm supply stores that sell chicks will also have started pullets for sale. Brands like Blain’s Farm, Tractor Supply, and Rural King

• Rhode Island Reds
• Barred Rocks
• Australorps
• Orpingtons
• Ameraucanas
• Black Sex Links

The birds are usually around 16-20 weeks old and ready to start laying soon. Ask at your local farm stores to see if they can special order other breeds as well. The benefit of buying local is you can inspect the birds in person and avoid shipping stress. Just be aware that supplies and options are limited compared to hatcheries.

Online Hatcheries

For the widest selection of chicken breeds, online hatcheries are the best option for buying started pullets and laying hens. Major hatcheries like:

• Cackle Hatchery
• Meyer Hatchery
• My Pet Chicken
• Ideal Poultry
• Freedom Ranger Hatchery

Offer a huge range of rare, unique, and specialty breeds that aren’t found in farm stores. Some will even let you create custom orders by selecting the exact number, age, and breeds you want.

Most hatcheries sell birds that are around 16-22 weeks old, but occasionally have limited quantities of mature hens over 1 year old as well. The downside is paying for specialized shipping of live animals, but the convenience of buying online is unbeatable.

Local Feed Stores

Don’t forget to check at local feed stores and co-ops to see if they have laying hens for sale. These are sometimes older birds that have been used for egg production for 1-2 years and are being “retired” from commercial farms. While not as fancy as hatchery stock, they can be a bargain for adding a few proven layers to your flock. The breed selection is very limited, usually Leghorns, Reds, or Plymouth Rocks. But a benefit is you can often buy small numbers of specific hens instead of a large order.

Farmer’s Markets and Swaps

Searching for chickens at farmer’s markets, flea markets, auctions, or online swaps like Craigslist is another option. Backyard chicken keepers often sell of flocks when downsizing or upgrading breeds. The choices will be very random based on whatever local people have available. But it allows finding mature hens and roosters of varying ages at usually reasonable costs. Be sure to ask sellers lots of questions and inspect birds closely before purchasing.

Local Classified Ads

Check classified ads in local newspapers, farm magazines, feed store bulletin boards, and online groups. Rural smallholders occasionally have standard or rare breed chickens for sale in limited quantities. Facebook groups for poultry and livestock are especially helpful to connect with people rehoming chickens. It takes effort and patience searching for birds this way, but you may find special additions to your flock.

Considerations When Purchasing Started Poultry

Here are some important things to keep in mind when buying started pullets, hens, and roosters:

• Cost: Started birds are more expensive than chicks but save on feed and time. Compare options to find the best value.

• Age: Know exactly how many weeks/months old the birds are. This determines when they will mature for laying or breeding.

• Health: Only purchase active birds with bright eyes and no discharge. Ask about any vaccinations or medications given.

• Shipping: Understand policies for safe transportation of live poultry. Factor costs of shipping into the total price.

• Guarantees: Be clear on any health guarantees or policies in case birds don’t thrive after purchase. Get guarantees in writing.

• Breeding: Ask lots of questions if buying for natural breeding. Know fertility and chick hatching rates for roosters or hens.

• Biosecurity: Consider quarantining new arrivals for 30 days before introducing to an existing flock.

Where to Buy Live Chickens – The Takeaway

Hopefully this overview has provided you with plenty of options to consider when looking for places to purchase started pullets, laying hens, or breeder roosters. With a little planning and research, you should be able to locate just the right live chickens to bring home, whether locally or online. The end result will be skipping the brooding stage and getting eggs or chicks sooner from your new flock additions!