The Best Places to Buy Pet Chickens

Chickens are popular pets and are now found in suburban backyards and city gardens. Chickens are clean and peaceful birds that supply their guardians with companionship, affection and breakfast. Hens begin to lay before they are a year old. Whether you want chicks or older birds, it is important to purchase healthy and vibrant chickens, and there are resources to do this. Chickens can be acquired through breeders, poultry shows, hatchery catalogs and rescue organizations.

  1. Hatcheries

    • Hatcheries provide day-old chicks for shipping to homes. Search through catalogs for unusual breeds that are sold straight-run (both sexes as hatched), or sexed as cockerels or pullets. Check to see if cocks, or roosters, are permitted in your city or town. Find a hatchery that caters to your needs. Decide if you want laying birds, rare breeds or unique birds. Check hatcheries that specialize in heritage or endangered breeds. View the catalogs to decide what type of chicken suits your needs -- bantams for small yards or large breeds for suburban or rural areas.

    Poultry Organizations

    • Contact chicken clubs and associations for unique selections of chickens. Visit these organizations' websites or shows to see the different varieties of chickens available. Search the APA (American Poultry Association) for information on breeds, shows and chicken keeping.

    Poultry Breeders

    • Search for local chicken breeders for pet birds. Note that show breeders often have pet quality purebred birds for sale. Research the dozens of purebred birds available from fluffy silkies to endangered Javas. Consult breeders and poultry keepers to help you decide which breed is right for you.

    Rescue Shelters

    • Visit animal shelters and rescue organizations to adopt chickens. Note that shelters often have a chicken or chickens available. Note that reputable shelters have checked the birds for health and will adopt out only sound stock. Watch for unusual or quality birds to arrive at shelters. Look for rescues that have rehabbed fighting cocks or spent laying hens (still young birds that will continue laying) if you are interested in aiding these types of birds, which can become good pets.