Can You Buy Chickens at Tractor Supply?

I didn’t plan on raising chickens. Not at first.

I was just at the feed store like I had been dozens of times before, picking up supplies. I always stopped to say hello to the baby chicks, watching them hop over each other under the warm glow of the heat lamps. It was a ritual, nothing more.

Then the clerk asked me, “So, are you going to get any birds?”

I don’t know what happened. Maybe it was instinct. I like to think it was fate. But before I could even think about it, I found myself grabbing pine shavings and a brooding lamp.

I had no coop. No brooder. No plan.

And just like that, I became a chicken dad.

Tractor Supply Chick Days: The Gateway to Poultry Addiction

Yes, you can buy chickens at Tractor Supply—and I’m living proof that you can do it accidentally.

Most Tractor Supply locations hold Chick Days in the spring, where bins full of peeping chicks tempt unsuspecting visitors into impulse purchases. If you walk in for fencing supplies or a bag of dog food, be prepared—you could walk out with a flock of birds and no idea what to do next.

Luckily, Tractor Supply doesn’t just sell chickens. They also stock everything you need to raise them, from feeders and waterers to brooders and starter feed. That’s why I grabbed what I could, rushed home, and quickly realized I had some learning to do.

What Happens After You Buy Chicks on a Whim?

For me, it meant improvisation. I scrambled to set up a brooder in an aquarium, did hours of research on chick care, and bought a pre-built coop. Those birds became my teachers, and before I knew it, I was fully immersed in the world of poultry.

What started as an impulse buy turned into a full-fledged operation. I went from harvesting broilers with an ex, toraising layers in my backyard, and teaching kids how to run a commercial egg farm. My house became an urban farm, and my work became about more than just chickens—it was about building young agricultural entrepreneurs who learn by doing.

Thinking About Buying Chicks at Tractor Supply? Read This First.

If you’re considering buying chicks at Tractor Supply (or if you already have, and you’re standing in your garage wondering what to do next), here’s my best advice:

 Have a Plan – At the very least, set up a brooder with a heat source, bedding, and food before bringing chicks home. Trust me, improvising with a cardboard box and a desk lamp won't work.

Know the Breed – Tractor Supply sells a variety of breeds, from egg layers to meat birds. Know what you’re getting so you can prepare accordingly. That means knowing the difference between breeds for beginners and birds for seasoned pros.

Buy the Right Equipment—You’ll need a feeder, waterer, and chick starter feed right away. A heat lamp or brooder plate is essential to keeping the chicks warm.

Commit to the Long Haul – Those adorable fluffballs will turn into full-sized chickens, and they’ll rely on you for food, shelter, and protection. Chickens are a responsibility, not a novelty.

Final Thoughts: Should You Buy Chicks at Tractor Supply?

Tractor Supply is a great place to start your chicken-keeping journey if you're ready, excited, and willing to learn. They have the supplies, the support, and—of course—the irresistible chicks.

But if you’re walking in for dog food and suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to take home a flock of birds… well, know that you’re not alone.

That’s how I started.

And now, I teach others how to do it the right way.

Suppose you want to go deeper into sustainable poultry farming. In that case, I cover everything from raising chicks to optimizing your farm in Thinking Outside the Soil. It’s the book I wish I had when I started.

You can grab a copy here and start your journey the right way.