Where to Buy Fertile Chicken Eggs: The Complete Guide

Getting fertile eggs to hatch into cute chicks is the first step in keeping chickens in your backyard. But where can you get good fertile eggs at a good price? I’ve had chickens for more than 10 years, so I want to tell you about the best places to buy fertile chicken eggs in person and online.

Buy from National Hatcheries Online

The easiest way to buy fertile eggs is to order from a national hatchery that ships right to your door. The two most popular online hatcheries are Meyer Hatchery and Cackle Hatchery.

Meyer Hatchery

Meyer Hatchery offers a great selection of chicken breeds with hatching eggs available from January to June. They have basic brown egg layers like Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. But they also offer more unique breeds like Speckled Sussex Silver Laced Wyandottes and Lavender Orpingtons.

My incubator always has good hatch rates when I order from Meyer Hatchery. Their eggs always come fresh and in the right packaging. Expect to pay $4-$7 per egg based on breed.

Cackle Hatchery

Cackle Hatchery has an even wider range of rare chicken breeds. You can get eggs from chickens like Silkies, Cochins, Polish, and Brahmas that aren’t always available from other hatcheries.

Cackle Hatchery does not guarantee hatch rates since many factors like shipping impact incubation But customer reviews generally show positive experiences buying eggs from them. Pricing is very reasonable at just $4-$7 per egg

The main bad thing about online hatcheries is that you have to pay for shipping. But these big national hatcheries are often worth the extra shipping cost because they are easy to get to and have a wide range of breeds.

Check Local Feed Stores

Many local farm supply and feed stores sell fertile chicken eggs during spring hatching season. While selection is more limited, you can avoid shipping charges by buying locally.

Call around to stores in your area to ask if they have hatching eggs for sale. Common sources include:

• Local feed stores like Atwoods, Tractor Supply Co., and Rural King
• Local branches of larger chains like Blain’s Farm & Fleet
• Independent pet supply stores or nurseries

Find out from the store when their shipments of fertile eggs usually come in. Get eggs as soon as they come in so they are as fresh as possible.

Expect to pay around $3-$5 per egg at feed stores. Selection will likely include common breeds like Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, and Ameraucanas. You may luck out and find more unique breed eggs too.

Buying local is ideal if you need just a handful of eggs. For buying 10-15 eggs to fill an incubator, the online hatchery route may make more sense.

Check Local Classified Listings

You can often find great deals on fertile eggs by checking local classifieds sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

Backyard chicken owners frequently sell extra fertile eggs from their flocks. Just make sure to ask questions about the breed and age of the eggs. You want eggs from healthy, well-cared for chickens that are less than 10 days old.

It’s also a good idea to arrange a pickup rather than having the eggs shipped. That reduces the risk of damage during transit. Expect to pay around $2-$4 per egg when buying directly from local chicken owners.

Joining local backyard chicken Facebook groups is another way to find people selling fertile eggs. You can search for ‘[your city] backyard chickens’ and likely find some local groups to join.

Attend a Local Poultry Swap or Auction

If you want a fun experience plus great deals on fertile eggs, attend a local poultry auction or swap meet.

These events let you meet local chicken breeders and purchase chickens or hatching eggs. You may even discover a rare heritage breed you can’t find anywhere else!

Poultry swaps happen throughout spring hatching season. Check with local 4H groups, county extension offices, or backyard poultry associations to find events in your area. Expect to pay $2-$5 per egg at swaps.

Buy from Local Chicken Breeders

For the widest selection of breeds, buy directly from a local chicken breeder. Check to see if there are any breeders within driving distance who sell fertile hatching eggs.

Good places to find their contact info are:

• Local poultry Facebook groups
• Poultry breed clubs like the Ameraucana Breeders Club
• Craigslist or Nextdoor classifieds
• At poultry swaps and shows

Contact the breeders to ask about egg availability and pricing. Expect to pay a premium for rare breed eggs from specialty breeders, likely $5-$10+ per egg.

Buying direct from breeders allows you to get exciting rare breed chickens. But make sure to ask about their health testing and breeding practices. Reputable breeders will happily share their biosecurity practices with customers.

Summary: Where to Buy Fertile Chicken Eggs

I hope these tips help you figure out the best source of fertile eggs to populate your coop! Here’s a quick summary:

• Order from national hatcheries like Meyer or Cackle for convenience and selection.

• Check local feed and farm supply stores for affordable common breed eggs.

• Find deals from backyard chicken owners on Facebook or Craigslist.

• Attend poultry swaps and auctions for fun local buying experiences.

• Contact local breeders for rare and heritage breed eggs.