The Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Backyard Chicks

When you start your own backyard flock, you want to do everything right. However, there are many common mistakes that beginners make. Sometimes those mistakes start right when they’re ordering their chicks. Here, we lay out those mistakes to help you avoid them as much as possible:

You order too many chicks

When starting your first backyard flock, there’s the tendency to get too excited and overdo it. If you buy too many chicks, you’ll feel overwhelmed and may not have the ability to care for them all. You should only get as many chicks as your backyard will allow. And even then, it’s a good idea to just start out with a few chicks if this is your first backyard flock. You can always buy (or breed) more later!

You expect them all to be one sex

Sexing chicks is hard work. While hatcheries like Chickens for Backyards will try their best to ensure you get the sex you want, it is not a 100% accurate process. As such, there is always the chance that you get a few males mixed in with your females. If you absolutely do not want this to happen, it’s better to order pullets rather than chicks.

You didn’t order your chicks early

Many people mistakenly believe that if they order their chicks one day, then those chicks should get to their home in just a few days. However, the wait-time for chicks can last from several weeks to several months depending on the time of year and the demand. As a result, it’s best to order your chicks as early as possible. You can then take the following weeks or months to gather supplies and prepare your backyard.

You didn’t do your research on breeds

Not all chickens are the same. Some breeds are friendlier while others are loners; some produce lots of eggs while others are best for meat production. Before you place your order, think about what your goals are for your backyard flock. Do you want them as pets that provide the occasional egg? Or would you like to raise them for meat? Once these questions are answered, you can narrow down on possible breeds.

Here at Chickens for Backyards, we’re more than happy to help you navigate the world of backyard chickens. Contact us today with any questions about starting your backyard flock!