Tips for Purchasing Baby Chicks

Before you run out and start buying baby chicks you should check out our great tips to help you get the best and healthiest chickens. Scroll down to see our Tips for purchasing baby chicks!

Tips for purchasing baby chicks

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Tips for Purchasing Baby Chicks. Baby chicks in a bucket photo submitted by Cindi Perry
Before you buy baby chicks
Before you start purchasing baby chicks you should make sure that you have a suitable brooder cage or coop to keep them in. Your baby chicks will grow quickly during the first few and it is important that you have a safe cage to keep them safe from predator's and dangers. You can get a good chick starter kit to make starting out easier, and it is a good idea to have a book about how to raise chicks as a reference guide. Make sure you only feed them starter feed which is higher in protein and ground smaller than regular feed. 
How to purchase baby chicks
If you buy baby chicks from local breeders you may get the opportunity to see how the chicks were raised. One of the disadvantages of buying chicks locally is that they is usually not an option to vaccinate them from potential disease. Purchasing baby chicks from a reputable hatchery has it's disadvantages as well as advantages. You can usually have the chicks vaccinated for Marek's on Day 1 after hatch.  Most reputable breeders are very selective about where they get their hatching eggs from. Unfortunately, unless you live near the hatchery the baby chicks will have to be shipped to you.  A reputable hatchery will not ship birds if it is too cold or too hot. If you do get to see the chicks before you make your purchase, select chicks which are active, have bright alert eyes, and have no clumps on the vent area. Lift the down of the chick to check for red spots or sores which could indicate parasite infestations. Make sure the chicks can walk correctly, do not buy a chick whose legs appear to spraddle outwards, this is a sign of vitamin deficiency which could have happened while they were still in the egg.
If you do not have any experience with baby chicks it is a good idea to get a chick starter kit and a heat lamp as well as read up on how to take care of baby chicks before you buy them.
  • Buy at least six and keep them together. This will help them to keep each other warm and will keep them quieter.
  • Look for chicks that have clean nostril's, eye's, feet, and vent areas. (The vent area is located at the rear of the chick).
  • Look for chicks that are fluffy and healthy looking.
Look at the other chickens in the flock to see if they are well cared for. If there are any signs of illness, filthy litter, sour feed, or green water, there is a good chance that the chicks could be sick, have mites, or could have a disease or bacterial infections. The place you get your chicks from should be clean, have fresh feed, and water and the other chickens should look healthy. See Finding a healthy chicken 
It is best to pick your chicks out yourself at a reputable location rather than by mail order.
If you live inside city limits be sure to check your city ordinances before you decide to buy chicks because some cities do not allow them (still in the dark ages) and they sometimes have limits on how many hens you can have, and whether or not you can have a rooster. Some cities do not allow roosters and some cities require that you have a permit for your chickens. If you are buying unsexed bantam or Silkie chicks be sure to make arrangements ahead of time about what to do with the roosters if you get any which you most likely will, such as finding someone who would like to adopt one or more roosters. Scroll down to see more about baby chicks....

Best Buys on Baby Chick Supplies

Memory Verse

The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect Psalms 33:10