Feed store having problems getting chicks. Anyone else find this?

[uppityperson]

Some of the chicks I'd ordered/reserved came in so I picked them up right away (rather than waiting 24 hours like I like to do, which gives those stressed too much by shipping a chance to die before I buy them) because the feed store chicken guy said they were selling fast and he couldn't get any more chick orders confirmed until the end of April. He didn't know why the regular hatcheries were unable to send more, but just that they couldn't.

This seems odd since they get chicks every week. Has anyone else run into chick shortage?

I was wondering if the hatcheries didn't hatch as many, or had a bunch die, or if they're going out of business/scaling down, or if more people are buying chickens? Supply or demand?

I got a bunch of silkies to act as moms so I can start hatching my own eggs out of a mixed flock and not have to rely on hatcheries.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Problem in high school, don't worry about it too much now. n/t

[Kolesar]

5. Know what you mean, it took me *years* ... eom

[panader0]

2. Haven't arrived at my local store yet.

My kids begged my for chickens. I gave in, built a coop and bought chicks. Then they lost interest.

[havocmom]

3. With corn going into fuel tanks, I am no surprised chicken hatcheries are in trouble

[uppityperson]

9. Got some info on the problem. Avian flu.

I talked with another local feed store who said they (and the one I usually go to) patronize Privett hatchery and they cut back over the last couple yrs due to bird flu hysteria, and now don't have the numbers that people want. Some smaller hatcheries have almost gone under for the same reason, so now they are stuck using the bigger mass hatcheries.

I have bought chicks from these guys for the last 8 yrs and am ready to go elsewhere since the quality isn't very good. They seem to have a fair amount of mixed birds (for example: silkies are supposed to have extra toes and feathered legs and sometimes don't) and I'm not happy with their quality. They seem to be going for bulk rather than quality.

At this point I'd be happy with another 4-6 egg layers, maybe will buy a couple older pullets from someone, but most everyone locally starts with privett chicks, so am still stuck with them.

I'm thinking on trying another hatchery next yr, but don't know if I need 25 chicks.

[madrchsod]

4. i had silkies many years ago

at one time i had over 20 chickens,4 geese and 4 ducks...if i could get away with it i`d have a couple of silkies in the backyard.

[LWolf]

6. I'm still giving chickens away, lol,

since I let too many hatch under broody hens last summer.

Have you tried getting them direct from the hatcheries yourself?

That's how I got mine, even though I didn't need 25 of them. The local feed store's choices are quite limited.

[newfie11]

7. yep I have used Murray McMurry hatchery for years

Np relation and I get no chicks for this.

[LWolf]

8. That's where my chicks came from.

All healthy, and we're happy with the flock. n/t

[Venceremos]

10. Try eggbid

Sorry I'm late on this, but have you tried eggbid at http://www.eggbid.com. It's an auction style web site. They sell all types of poultry, including exotics, and hatching eggs. I've always had good luck buying there.