Where to Buy Baby Chicks: Your Complete Guide for First‑Time Chicken Keepers

Starting a backyard flock is exciting — but one of the first questions new keepers face is:
Where should I buy baby chicks?

There are several places you can source chicks, and each has pros and cons depending on your goals, budget, and timeline. In this post, we’ll walk through all the common options:

• Online hatcheries

• Local breeders

• Supply stores and mills

• Swap meets and trade shows

• Neighbors and community sources

You’ll learn how each option works (including shipping, hatch dates, minimum orders), what to watch out for, and how to choose healthy chicks for your forever flock.

Let’s get started!

Online hatcheries specialize in breeding and hatching chicks and often offer a wide variety of breeds. Many of them ship chicks to the post office in a specially packaged box. When the package arrives, the Post office calls and you go pick them up.

Online hatcheries list availability dates for each breed on thier website— these are the dates the chicks are expected to hatch and be ready for shipping. If you want several breeds all at the same time, you’ll need to:

• Check availability calendars

• Calculate Hatch Dates (for example, if you want chicks on March 15, find hatcheries with hatches 1–2 days before that date)

• Sometimes use multiple hatcheries to match your preferred timing

After what felt like days of obsessing over breed charts and hatch calendars, I realized that because every hatchery has its own unique lineup of breeds (which makes timing and selection a bit of a puzzle), I would have to be flexible on breed selection if hatch date was my priority.

I had a specific egg color palette in mind (hello, rainbow egg basket! 🥚✨), but each hatchery offered different breeds, with different hatch dates, and most had minimum order quantities per breed — usually 3 chicks or more.

At first, I tried to mix and match from multiple hatcheries to get exactly what I wanted… but it quickly became complicated.

So I simplified.

I ended up choosing a single hatchery with a great reputation and picked breeds that aligned closely enough with my original vision. It wasn’t a perfect lineup, but it gave me a cohesive hatch date and manageable logistics.

And of course… even though I only wanted 12 chicks, they added a few extras for shipping loss protection — and I ended up with 19 fluffy surprises (and no roosters). 😅

Thankfully, I had purchased a coop big enough to handle a few unexpected additions.
👉 See the coop I ended up choosing here.

Once chicks are shipped, they arrive in a box via the post office. Make sure you have your brooder ready before they get there because you will want to get them under heat immediately. For a list of my recommended brooder supplies, get my curated favorites list here.

• Huge breed selection — uncommon and heritage breeds often available

• Nationwide options — find hatcheries closer to you to reduce stress in transit

• Live delivery guarantees — most will replace or refund lost chicks

• Minimum order quantities per breed

• Timing your order can require planning

• Extra cost for shipping

Below is a list of some of the more well known, reputable breeders. I am not affiliated with any of them and am only providing the list for your reference. I personally used Cackle Hatchery with my last order (the 19 chicks I referenced above) and had a great experience with them.

If you have local chicken breeders in your area, this is a great option for buying chicks in person.

• You can see the parents and the living conditions

• Often get personal advice about temperament, care, and breed suitability

• You don’t pay shipping

If you’re lucky enough to have a breeder near you, this can be a great way to:

• Choose exact numbers of each breed

• Avoid minimum breed orders

• Get hands‑on help from someone experienced

• Limited breed selection

• Not always available depending on your region

• May sell out quickly or only sell at specific times of year

Farm supply stores and feed mills often have chicks in springtime and sometimes year‑round. These stores typically work with local farmers and hatcheries to bring in batches of chicks.

• You can choose as many chicks as you want (no minimum breed order)

• Staff can often answer practical care questions

• You can buy feed, bedding, and supplies all at once

• Breed selection may be limited

• You may not know exact lineage or hatch date

• Sometimes higher prices than direct from hatchery

Seasonal swap meets, agricultural fairs, and poultry shows are often great places to find chicks.

• You can choose chicks in person

• Talk directly with other chicken keepers

• Often find heritage or rare breeds

• Typically seasonal (spring in many areas)

• Some vendors may be less reputable — ask questions

• You’re responsible for health checks

At these events, choose chicks that are active, alert, and free of pasty butt or limping.

Don’t underestimate your community as a source for chicks:

• People selling or sharing extras

• Farm Classifieds or Bulletin Boards

• Local resell groups

A word of caution: Some social platforms ban livestock sales, so check the rules — but neighborhood classified ads, fliers, and word of mouth can lead you to local sources.

Always ask about:

• How long the chicks have been on feed

• What they are being fed

• Health history

• Sexing of the chicks (male vs female)

No matter where you buy them from, look for:

✔ Bright, clear eyes
✔ Active, inquisitive movement
✔ Clean feathers and dry vent
✔ Strong legs and upright posture

Avoid:

✘ Chicks that are lethargic
✘ Matted or dull feathers
✘ Pasty butt that won’t wash off

Choosing healthy chicks sets you up for a stronger, productive flock.

When it comes to buying chicks:

• Know your goals — eggs, meat, or hobby?

• Plan ahead — hatch dates don’t wait

• Balance variety vs timing — sometimes you’ll order multiple hatcheries to get what you want

• Buy healthy chicks — from a reputable source

Whether you buy online or locally, the important thing is a strong start for your flock.

If you’re overwhelmed sorting breeds, or planning your first flock:

👉 Grab my FREE Backyard Chicken Keeper Starter Toolkit — includes checklist pages and planning sheets breed selection and brooder setup.

📘 And for more step‑by‑step help, check out my book: Raising Chickens for Beginners on Amazon — the guide I wish I had when I started.