The most important way to know if you’re getting a healthy chicken is to do some research prior to collecting one from the source of your choice. Keep in mind that there are various kinds of chickens that have been bred for purposes other than eating.
If you are looking to raise chickens primarily for laying eggs, you will want to research breeds that are known for their egg-laying abilities. There are dual-purpose chickens that can be used for meat and eggs as well as ornamental or exhibition chickens that are bred for their appearance.
Find out about why chickens stop laying eggs here.
You will need to decide how many chickens you want and what type of housing will work best for your situation. If you have a large yard, then it’s possible to let the birds range freely (free-range) in a fenced area where they can’t get into too much trouble. You also want to be reasonably sure they are safe from predators.
Just as importantly, take into consideration how harsh your winters are or how hot your summers can get. Some breeds are more cold-hardy or more heat tolerant than others. Read about chickens laying eggs in the winter (year-round) here.
Read more about Chicken Care in the Winter here.
This guide will help you get the most from your investment and to choose some chicks that are appropriate for your needs.
Buying fresh, healthy chickens from local farms
Local farms and hobby farms can be the best place to find new chickens that are suitable for your area. Local farms usually offer inexpensive birds. These chicks are most often traditionally bred.
When you’re looking for local chicks, ask your neighborhood feed and grain stores, agricultural schools, and even the marketplace on Facebook.
Rescue Groups and Animal Shelters for Chickens
Many large pet shelters have chickens and other farm animals looking for a home.
Call around to your local shelters to see if they have rescues in need of a home. Depending on the age and breed of the hen, you may still have many years left to collect eggs from a newly adopted chicken. Read more about how long chickens lay here. Many of the local shelters also have websites as well as Facebook pages you can check as well.
Online and mail-order Chickens
Most people today are ordering their chicks right from hatcheries through their websites. The benefits of ordering from these companies are they offer some type of guarantee with their birds. They also offer a huge variety and will help you choose the right type for what your needs are (egg layers, pet/hobby birds, meat birds).
Yes, chicks arrive via USPS all over the United States with no problems.
Feed and Grain Stores
Gilmore’s has ‘chick days’ throughout certain dates in the warmer months. Many of your local ‘farm’ stores offer the same. Check your google listing for local businesses in your area.
Purchasing from a local feed and grain store is a great way to get the health guarantee of a hatchery while only needing to purchase a few chicks.
Hatching your Own Chicks Using an Incubator
You could also hatch your own chicks right from the egg! Many hatcheries sell fertilized eggs. Purchase a good quality incubator and you’ll have your very own life lesson in your own home. You can read more about hatching eggs with an incubator right here.
Related reading: What Pet Chickens can Teach Your Child.
Gender of your chick
Pretty important to let you know here that many of the local farms, rescue groups, and places like Facebook Marketplace will not be able to tell you the sex of your chick or offer you any type of compensation if you get all males (roosters), which are, you guessed it, NOT egg layers.
Feed and Grain stores as well as online/ mail order companies do offer some percentage of guarantee of the sex of the chick. After all, you are more than likely looking for egg production in some capacity for your new backyard chickens.
A few fresh eggs every couple of days from 3 hens is a reasonable expectation.
Things to think about when buying chickens
Never buy chickens from a facility that is dirty or unsafe for the animals. If the animals are dirty, without feed and clean water, you do not want to do business there. They’re only risking the bird’s health and passing along to you a much higher chance of buying a chick that will only survive days. Purchase your chicks from a place you know or a friend knows, one who will help you be sure you have everything you need for the well-being of the chicks.
You can also check the Google reviews for local small businesses as well as the larger hatcheries.
Before you buy, you may want to consider all your pros and cons, read here for more information.
A healthy baby chick at a glance
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed”. Keep that in mind when picking out your chick if you decide to forego the online/ mail-order route. Ordering online or via mail order will offer you some sort of health guarantee.
Be sure to read about the best time to get your baby chicks.
Nostrils
The nose area of the chick/ chicken is on its beak. Check that nostrils are clear. No discharge should be noticed.
Bright-Eyed
Their eyes are bright, not cloudy. The skin around the eyes isn’t inflamed or red. There is no discharge from the eyes.
Bushy Tailed
Feathers will vary by age of the chick, but in general, they should look smooth and flat, or fluffy buying a chick. If you’re buying a chick that is coming into it’s feathers, you’ll notice a combination of feathers and fluff/down. Check for bald areas, a common sign of mites.
Limbs and Feet
Should be free of open wounds or signs of injury
Beak
You’ll also want to check to be sure the beak is free from any cracks or breaks, also that it opens/shuts. When you observe or even pick the chick up, it will most likely peep or chirp making this easy to spot.
Overall appearance of chick
- The chick isn’t shaking or any sign of a limp.
- It’s moving around, walking, hopping as chicks do.
- No sign of falling over when it is moving or a ‘drunken chicken’ appearance.
- Chick looks clean; no poop is stuck to its butt.
- The wings don’t appear floppy/broken.
- The area where the chick is kept is clean.
- No appearance of other hens or chicks being ill or neglected.
- A nice healthy peeping is always a great sign too!
Looking for a ‘Giant” Chicken Breed? Read About The Jersey Giant Here or Another Large Breed Like The Brahma Hens & Roosters.
A Couple of The All Around Family Favorite Birds Can Be Found With The Easter Eggers or The Cochin Chickens.
Maybe a Bantam Breed Like the Sebright or Mille Fleur D’Uccle Is What You’re Looking For?
Read About Blue Egg Layers like the Araucana and Ameraucana or The Easter Eggers to Add Variety to Your Flock
You’re on your way to Raising backyard chickens
We’ve covered what to look for and be wary of when picking your first chicks. We encourage you to have more than one in your group, especially if you buy very young. Grown hens do better in groups and have a way of watching out for the safety of one another.
For a first-time chicken owner, a good starter amount of baby chicks is 3-6. That being said, many of the online hatcheries have minimum quantities of 15-25. If you aren’t prepared to care for that many, you can see if a friend is also interested in starting their own backyard chicks. There is also contacting local agricultural schools, feed stores, and even vets to see if they know anyone looking to share an order with you.
Getting Ready to Raise chickens at Home
Now that you’re on your way to raising chickens at home, you’ll want to have a few things ready.
If you’re starting with younger birds, remember they need warmth until they are fully feathered. Get yourself a heat lamp. Setting up a brooding box or a section of your chicken coop will work too.
You’ll want to be sure to feed chickens age-appropriate feeds. Check with your local feed and grain/ farm supply store for help.
Raising hens is super exciting when they start to lay eggs. You’ll want to be sure they have clean nesting boxes available before they start to produce eggs.
Before you let your younger birds venture into a run area, make sure it is secure and safe from predators. Keep your run area clean.
Read our complete guide on how to raise chickens for beginners.
Raising Chickens from chicks
Getting your first few chicks isn’t all that hard, most of this is common sense and following simple tips to picking the best chicks for success. Before you know it you’ll be raising chickens in your backyard and collecting eggs by the dozens!
Raising chickens at home for egg production, and knowing you’re eating healthier eggs is a huge motivation to get ready for your new baby chicks.
Wondering how many eggs your chicken will lay? Read more here.
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