Do livestock farms sell mid-aged chickens or do I have to get them as chicks?

Answer 1

Most farmers would be glad to sell you some older hens, because they cull their flocks anyway when the hens get to be about two years old and laying slacks off. (Older hens still lay, but not as often.) The average price for an older laying hen is $3 to $5. The problem might be, that they could be unsuited for backyard pets.

Chickens raised in factory farms, where they are crammed together into tiny cages (and in my opinion very much abused) are often in pretty bad shape -- feathers picked, deformed feet, pumped full of antibiotics, etc. They also lack basic survival skills such as scratching for food, foraging, etc. And they usually have the ends of their beaks trimmed off (to prevent pecking each other to death in the cages) and must be fed commercial chicken mash because they can't pick up solid food such as corn and bugs very well. It is possible to rescue these factory farm chickens and rehabilitate them, but it would take a lot of patience and knowledge. Not a good choice for beginners.

You might have better luck going to a family-type farm with free-run chickens but, again, they may not be very tame or might not adapt well to your backyard conditions (where they would have to be in a pen or cage of some sort). Most likely they would be rather nervous and flighty, although you might find exceptions on a farm where the kids handle and play with the chickens.

Your best source for pet adult chickens would be the local county fair, where 4H kids show their birds in competitions. Very often they also have some for sale and these are exceptionally well-cared-for and tame. (The have to be, so the judges can handle them easily.) A lot of 4H-ers bring some extra birds for sale at the show. Others probably have some extras at home, because they only enter the very best ones in the competitions. So don't be shy about asking. You will also see a lot of really interesting and beautiful breeds at such shows, too -- not just the usual white egg or meat chickens. And you can talk directly with the breeders about their birds -- who just LOVE to talk chickens! You'll pay more for these birds, but you will get much better quality, too.

Checking with shelters about a month or two after Easter is also a possibility. People still persist in buying their kids chicks that they can't keep as adult birds (not a good idea.) These are usually VERY tame from being played with -- the problem is, almost all of these Easter chicks turn out to be Leghorn roosters, which can be noisy and aggressive as adults. (Rooster chicks are cheaper and there is always a surplus at the hatcheries, so the Easter market is one place the extra males get dumped.)

Farm feed stores, on the other hand, sell pre-sexed chicks (sorted out as hens or roosters). Some stores have them on hand to buy and others require you to pre-order. Again, spring is the best time to find these. The advantage of raising chicks is that they will bond to you and be used to your specific housing situation.

Answer 2

If your talking about people who raise chikens for egg production they don't sell them. Everything is like a factory today. very specialized. Old chickens for making eggs for broilers for ex are just killed.
If you want some older chickens I'd put a note up at the local feed store. But getting chicks is easy and fun. You can get some thru the internet but they probably are going to have a 25 bird minimum, at least they did last time I did that.
Feed stores, and other places in small towns will sell as many or few as you want. Some take orders ahead of time, others have them there.
Call your county extension agent, they would know it all

Answer 3

Yes you Can get mid-aged chicks. I do not get mine from livestock farms tho,I look in the farmers market bulletin it is a free paper and it has lots of bird assessorys and chickens of all ages,,my faves are banes, they are small and easy to care for. good layers too..

Answer 4

Everything is for sale, drive out to a chicken farm and ask how much. You will come home with as many as you want.

Answer 5

you've been sucked right into a psychological vulnerability generic as "loop compulsion" (google this time period) through the evil empire Zynga. they have taken income of your inherent psychological go with for worry-free and order, and lured you right into a compulsive sense of habit through coming up a recreation that under no circumstances ends. Do you imagine that pouring water right into a bucket with holes in it is relaxing ? those video games seize various of people in yet they don't very last, because there is not any lengthy lasting high quality or which ability interior the pastime. you go with to get out even as you nonetheless can. and do not attempt to promote your farm - there are already 1000's of 1000's of those who're hooked in this compulsion loop habit and who spend (mutually) tens of millions of funds on valueless digital crap. i ought to bypass the Jim Jones route - feed all and sundry Kool-help and burn the farm down.

Answer 6

You can get chickens at the animal shelter usually too. You have to ask.

Answer 7

Call some vets in your area. They can usually hook you up. Good luck and have a tweet year.