Thumbing through a chick catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2 pounds when full grown.
Just like ordering anything online there are pros and cons to ordering chicks online.
PROS OF ORDERING CHICKS ONLINE
* Big Selection – If you are wanting a large variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best selection at an online hatchery.
* Both Bantams and full sized chickens available
* You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of both male and female then choosing a “straight run” will save you money and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose all males or all females too.
* Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the breeds you are wanting.
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CONS OF ORDERING CHICKS ONLINE
* Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you are wanting a certain breed it’s best to order your chicks in the fall before their orders sell out.
* Quantity – you must order a certain quantity of chicks. Typically hatcheries will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce enough body heat to arrive in good shape.
* The wait – If you choose to buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship and then wait for the chicks to arrive.
Ordering chicks online is easy and has always been a very pleasant experience for me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks but it’s so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all those little “cheeps” or “chirps” in the background you’ll know the wait was worth it!
Another option to order chicks online would be to order fertilized chicken eggs and an incubator and hatch the eggs yourself. This is a fun option especially if you have young children. This option does have negatives though. One of the key things you need to think about is the possibility of getting several roosters out of a hatch. If you don’t mind having roosters, then hatching your own eggs is a great option.
You may be wondering where you can find hatching eggs? I’ve had great luck hatching eggs from ebay.
Frizzle chickens hatching eggs cochin showgirl bantam and standard 6+ | US $6.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 10:54:01 PST Buy It Now for only: US $8.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
10+ SILKIE CHICKEN EGGS FOR HATCHING - bearded beauties- FREE HEAT PACK
 | US $22.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 9:47:37 PST Buy It Now for only: US $27.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
6 Ameraucana Bantam Chicken Hatching Blue Eggs
 | US $12.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 9:40:43 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
★NEW ITEM★THE SUNNY SIDE UP EGG INCUBATOR★ POULTRY CHICKEN QUAIL PHEASANT BIRD
 | US $20.90 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 5:54:01 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
★NEW ITEM★THE SUNNY SIDE UP EGG INCUBATOR★ POULTRY CHICKEN QUAIL PHEASANT BIRD
 | US $20.90 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 5:50:09 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
Whether you choose to order chickens online or hatch your own eggs, you are sure to have a great experience with your new little chicken friends!