The easiest way to start a backyard flock of chickens is to purchase day old chicks from a hatchery.
We have compiled a list of hatcheries located in the United States to assist you with your search. Some of the hatcheries are large commercial hatcheries, selling hundreds of thousands of birds, to small backyard poultry enthusiasts, selling less than a hundred birds a year.
Please due your own due diligence when choosing a hatchery. This list is provided to help you with your search and although we may have used some of them in the past, we do not recommend any one hatchery. Call and ask questions when possible. Check on their shipping method and rates, minimum chick order, certifications, chick availability and chick guarantees.
Murray McMurray Hatchery - Located in Iowa. Sells over 70 different breeds of chickens as well as other poultry. One of the largest hatcheries in the country.
Cackle Hatchery - Located in Missouri. Sells over 70 different breeds of chickens as well as other poultry.
Mount Healthy Hatchery - Located in Ohio, they carry about 28 different breeds of chicken as well as ducks, turkeys and game birds.
Ridgway Hatchery - Located in Ohio, they sell 13 different breeds of chickens, along with waterfowl, turkeys and game birds.
Hoovers Hatchery - Located in Iowa, they carry 13 different breeds of chickens as well as game birds, waterfowl and turkeys.
Welp Hatchery - Located in Iowa. Selling over 60 different breeds of chickens, along with waterfowl and game birds.
Strombergs Hatchery - Located in Minnesota, they carry over 100 different breeds of chickens as well as waterfowl, pigeons, doves and game birds.
Estes Hatchery - Located in Missouri, they sell over 20 different breeds of chickens as well as some waterfowl and game birds.
Belt Hatchery - Located in California, they carry about 20 different breeds of chickens.
Decorah Hatchery - Located in Iowa, they sell 13 different breeds of chickens as well as ducklings, turkey and guineas.
Schletcht Hatchery - Located in Iowa, they carry 12 different breeds of chickens as well as ducklings and turkeys.
Sun Ray Hatchery - Located in Iowa. Sells 8 different breeds of chickens.
Privett Hatchery - Located in New Mexico. They sell over 60 different breeds of chickens, along with waterfowl and turkeys.
Moyers Chicks - Located in Pennsylvania, they sell 4 different breeds of chickens.
MT-DI Poultry Farm - Located in Pennsylvania, they carry 6 different breeds of chickens. They have a slow growing broiler called "Red Ranger" for those wishing to raise broilers in a pastured environment.
Greenfire Farms - Located in Florida, this farm carries 15 of the rarest breeds in the world. Great site to check out if you want to raise breeds that in some case have less than 200 specimens world wide!