Where Can You Get Chickens for Fresh Backyard Eggs?
Where Can You Get Chickens for Fresh Backyard Eggs?
Quick Recap for Busy Chicken Peeps
Local stores offer chicks each spring
Hatcheries let you preorder the breeds you want
Renting hens is a thing (and it’s genius)
Hatching your own is easier than you think
Ask the right questions before buying grown hens
The Day I Stood in Line for Chickens
There’s a moment every chicken keeper remembers—the first time they realized the idea of getting chickens was way easier than the reality.
For me, it happened in the spring. The smell of pine shavings, heat lamps buzzing overhead, and a line so long it wrapped around the building like folks were buying concert tickets. Not for Taylor Swift… for chicks.
I didn’t plan on standing in line that day. I just got a wild hair and thought, “I’ll swing by the feed store real quick.” Big mistake.
There must’ve been 50 folks ahead of me. Babies screaming. Coffee running cold. And there I was… waiting for birds that might already be sold out.
But then I noticed something.
A few people waltzed right in and picked up their boxes—no waiting, no fuss. They were smiling like they knew a secret the rest of us didn’t. And they did.
They preordered.
The Epiphany That Hit Me in That Line
That day was a reminder of something I already knew deep down: You don’t need to wait in line to get good birds. You just need a better system.
I usually order from hatcheries—Meyer Hatchery is my go-to for chickens. Cackle Hatchery for waterfowl. They’ve both been around for decades and have the kind of reviews that come from generations of doing it right.
And here's the kicker...
Those same hatcheries ship straight to your door. You pick the breed, the hatch date, and the gender. You get exactly what you want.
But sometimes, people want the experience. They want to hatch eggs themselves. And that’s where things get even more fun.
The Day We Started Hatching at Blooming Health
At Blooming Health Farms, we offer something we call the “Hatch The Chicken” program—a done-for-you kit with fertile eggs, an incubator, and step-by-step instructions.
We send these into senior care facilities, schools, and even suburban homes. The results? Smiles. Wonder. And a handful of newly-hatched chicks that change people’s lives.
We’ve even had folks come back and say, “That hatching project was the highlight of our school year.”
Wait... You Rent Chickens?
Yep. You read that right.
We rent chickens.
For the curious but commitment-wary, we offer a seasonal package: 2–4 hens, a mobile chicken tractor, feeder, waterer, and 6 months of feed. You get eggs without the lifelong responsibility. At the end of the season, you can adopt the hens—or return them.
It’s been a game-changer for families, retirees, and busy folks who want to dip their toe into chicken keeping without diving headfirst.
Don’t Get Duped Like I Did
Now, not every chicken source is created equal.
I remember the first time I bought laying hens from a local farmer. I was excited. He seemed honest. But a few weeks in, I realized something was off. The girls weren’t laying.
Turns out they were older hens—past their prime. The guy wasn’t trying to rip me off. He was just trying to recoup some feed costs.
But I didn’t know what to ask back then.
If you’re buying from a local farm, ask these three questions:
How old are these girls?
When were they hatched?
How many eggs are they laying per week right now?
If they can’t answer, walk away.
So... Where Can You Get Chickens?
Let’s break it down real simple:
Local Feed Stores: Great in the spring, but get there early or preorder.
Online Hatcheries (like Meyer or Cackle): Best selection and delivered to your door.
Hatching Your Own: Fun, educational, and more accessible than you think.
Renting Chickens: Fresh eggs without the full-time commitment.
Local Farms: Just ask the right questions so you don’t get burned.
Wanna Learn to Pimp Your Flock?
Inside my Skool group—Pimp Your Flock—you’ll find a course made specifically for beginners. It walks you through the whole process, from choosing chicks to collecting your first farm-fresh eggs.
It’s $100/month to join, but I’ve got a free 7-day trial going right now. No fluff. Just real, practical training from someone who’s chicken’d through it all. Answers you won't find on Google or with your AI assistant...
👉 Check it out at www.pimpyourflock.com
Fresh Eggs, Smarter Starts
Whether you’re looking to hatch, rent, or buy birds, getting started with chickens doesn’t have to be hard. Just like the folks who skipped the line, you can take a smarter path to fresh eggs—right out your back door.
Preorder smart. Hatch with joy. Ask the right questions. And above all, remember: every Chicken Peep has the potential to become a Chicken Pimp.
