Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE => Topic started by: contactme_11 on January 04, 2009, 12:29:12 pm

Title: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: contactme_11 on January 04, 2009, 12:29:12 pm: I'm looking to buy some chickens in western MA. Does anyone have any suggestions as to any breeders around the area? I would really like to find some rhode island reds if it makes a difference. Thanks
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: Natalie on January 04, 2009, 12:31:27 pm: There are people selling some chickens in your area right now, I saw it advertised a week ago on the backyard chickens forum.
Its a forum all about chickens, you would have to join though in order to access all the listings in the buy sell and trade section.
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: BRIANCJ on January 05, 2009, 11:03:22 pm: try EggBid.com,good poultry related site.
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: Brian D. Bray on January 05, 2009, 11:59:18 pm: I've gotten chickens in the past from the local farm co-op (feed store) but haven't been happy with that.
This year I ordered 15 Red Bourbon Turkeys, 8 Joe Pye Game fowl, and 18 Black Jersey Giant chickens (2 roosters) from McMurray hatcheries. I've had pretty good luck getting birds from them in the past. They usually send an extra of each breed and then throw in a fancy chicken to boot.
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: poka-bee on January 17, 2009, 04:35:36 pm: Unless you can find someone close to your place & are into production instead of showing you may be better off like Brian said to get from a hatchery. They are less stressed cause they only have to go from where they hatched to your place. Most at the feedstores come in the mail to the feedstore & stay there for however long having different people gawking at & handling em (like unsupervised kids...) Then you take em home. I have had good luck with Estes. The only thing about getting em straight from the hatchery is the minimum # needed to ship safely. See if anyone you know also wants some fowl & split the batch & cost of shipping. J
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: reinbeau on January 17, 2009, 06:56:35 pm: This weekend is the Northeast Poultry Congress (http://nepoultrycongress.homestead.com/) at the Big E Fairgrounds in Springfield, MA. Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day. You can hook up with breeders in Western MA out there. I highly recommend buying from local breeders rather than hatcheries, the birds are a better quality (I wish I'd known that before I bought mine last year at the local feed and grain - they are hatchery birds and lay lovely eggs, but once you've seen the real thing the hatchery birds pale in comparison!). The show is free, parking is free, and the birds are awesome!
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: Natalie on January 17, 2009, 07:25:34 pm: I'll say! I went with Ann today and came home with 2 gorgeous blue laced red wyandottes.
I highly recommend the show and the quality of birds being offered for sale.
If you go just be sure to wear gloves and dress warm, its a wee bit chilly in that complex.
Title: Re: Off topic- Where to buy chickens in MA
Post by: gmcharlie on February 26, 2009, 03:19:33 pm: McMurray hatchery in IA ask for a catalog and order to your hearts content...... Been buying from them for over 20 years and never a problem.