Adding that if one wants just a few birds there are limited hatcheries that have "small orders" and those that do have enormous shipping fees.
For me buying chicks less than a week old from a feed store carries far less disease risk than buying from someone local selling started pullets or chicks hatched under broody hens.
My only TSC purchase of chicks has been a group of Blue Copper Marans that was marked down to $2 each as it was the end of the season.
I am happy enough with these pretty birds even if they could never be show quality.
One needs to do their homework when buying from a feed store and know what the breeds they desire look like as chicks. Feed stores sell far to many chicks to never make mistakes and mix them up. I think they try hard but lack some breed id capabilities.
For me buying chicks less than a week old from a feed store carries far less disease risk than buying from someone local selling started pullets or chicks hatched under broody hens.
My only TSC purchase of chicks has been a group of Blue Copper Marans that was marked down to $2 each as it was the end of the season.
I am happy enough with these pretty birds even if they could never be show quality.
One needs to do their homework when buying from a feed store and know what the breeds they desire look like as chicks. Feed stores sell far to many chicks to never make mistakes and mix them up. I think they try hard but lack some breed id capabilities.