How and Where to Buy Chicks/Chickens
Buying Chicks
If you buy chicks from a farm supply store, you may not know what kind of chicken you are buying or what sex it may be. This could become an issue because too many roosters can be problematic (see male to female ratio). You need to understand the temperament of each different breed. Some chickens are flighty, noisy, and unfriendly. Others are calm. Some are friendly, others are not. Certain birds don't get along with other birds. Do you want eggs, meat, or do you want something that is going to eat bugs and pests? Do your research or buy from someone who can explain the differences in breeds.
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You can buy from a hatchery, but look at what people say about that hatchery. We bought from one hatchery (Murray McMurray) and were very unhappy with the chicks we received. They were not healthy or active. We have been buying from Privett Hatchery in NM and have been very happy with the chicks we have received.
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If you buy chicks, you need to be prepared for a lot of work for the next five weeks. You need to be set up with a protected area, heat lamps (you can't just keep them in the house unless your house is 95+ degrees), waterers, feeders, and correct bedding. Temperatures need to remain consistent which means constant checking (every couple of hours) day and night. Yes, that means you may not be sleeping much depending on your weather. Over the years we have learned to allow the chicks to tell us how much heat they do or don't need, but it still requires a lot of checking. We are more than willing to share our experience with you if you want to venture into this endeavor.
Another challenge with chicks is something we call pasty butt. This can be caused by excessive heat or cold, the food they are fed, or even the breed. You will see poop that is stuck to their butt (the vent area). If this is not taken care of, it can and will kill the chick. The solution to the problem is to check every chick, every day for the first week or two, collect those that have pasty butt, and then clean each one so the vent area is clean. I hold each chick securely and put just the vent (butt) area in a bowl of warm water. I hold them in that position for about a minute or two and then I will use my other hand and gently rub the area until the poop begins to come off. This can take several minutes. I will dry the vent area with a paper towel and put the chick under a heat lamp until it is warmed up and dry. It is also important to watch the chick to see whether it can pass feces normally. Here is what a pasty butt looks like.
Here is a good site that explains causes and treatments you may want to try.
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/pasty-butt-in-chicks/
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When dealing with chicks, it is not unusual to lose up to 10% of your chicks. It is sad, but it does happen. We have had batches of 100 chicks and have lost one, and other times we have lost seven or more. Sadly, it is just part of the process.
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Buying Older Chickens
If you are buying older chickens, you now have the ability to choose whether you want hens or roosters. You have bypassed the greatest loss factor, the pasty butt phase, and the endless checking (and sleepless nights) to make sure that they aren't too cold, but other factors now come into play that need to be considered.
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Where should you buy them? From whom should you buy? You can get bargains on Craig's List or other sites off the internet. You can buy them at the flea market or people who are selling them from their homes. How do you know if you are getting something that is healthy or you will be happy with?
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Know who you are buying them from and how they have been raised. If the seller can't tell you exactly how old they are, what breed they are, or tell you any of the characteristics of the breed, you probably want to pass. Many times a bargain isn't a bargain. We have seen people who have bought mean, bullied, sickly, or parasite ridden birds. Taking those birds back to your flock is only asking for trouble.
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Ask how they have been raised. How much space do they have? How many birds are being kept in that space? Are they spending time outside or are they confined inside? What kind of bedding do they have on the floor? How clean is their area? Do they have at least 10 square feet per bird? There is a place nearby that had about 30-40 birds in a confined area that should have contained 5-10 at the most. What we saw were bullies and the bullied, those that were being pecked at and feathers pulled out, sickly looking, worn, and depressed birds. Another place had too many birds all confined to small cages. Who knows what parasites may have infested those dirty living quarters, what diseases they may have been carrying, or the toll that has been taken on their health. Check out the living conditions in which they were raised and the sellers knowledge of all things chicken.