Buy Chickens Online: The 14 Best Hatcheries (That Deliver)

Buy Chickens Online From These 14 Hatcheries

We examined price, shipping, chicken breed options, and, of course, live and healthy chicks and pullets to find the 14 best hatcheries to buy chickens online.

But one hatchery located in Missouri stood out. They offer a great selection, but they breed their birds in tune with Mother Nature.

Find out what’s the name of this hatchery, plus other trusted online chicken sellers below.

Where to Buy Chickens Online: The 14 Best Hatcheries of 2023

Don’t have time to go through the entire review? Here’s a handy round-up of all the hatcheries in our list.

HATCHERY	NAME	DETAILS
Top Pick Top Pick	Cackle Hatchery	Order as few as 3 chicks Huge breed selection and chicken supplies Chicks aren’t available year-round	CHECK WEBSITE
One-Stop Shop One-Stop Shop	Stromberg’s Chicks and Game Birds Unlimited	Several US Locations Also sells poultry supplies Cancelation fee	CHECK WEBSITE
For Chicks For Chicks	Murray McMurray Hatchery	Stringent packing for survival Free shipping on chick orders Substitutes a different breed if they cannot meet your order	CHECK WEBSITE
For Hybrids For Hybrids	Moyers Hatchery	Certified by the Poultry Handlers & Transportation program Can pick up chicks in person Limited selection of breeds	CHECK WEBSITE
	J&M Hatchery	Family-owned Pay extra 2% for survival security Only have Silkies	CHECK WEBSITE
	Meyer Hatchery	Custom leg bands for hard to recognize breeds Carries chicks and mature birds Chicks are expensive	CHECK WEBSITE
	My Pet Chicken	Great customer service Have ultra rare breeds Ships to certain zip codes	CHECK WEBSITE
	Ideal Poultry	Largest US supplier of backyard poultry Family owned Must buy $30 worth of poultry	CHECK WEBSITE
	Purely Poultry	Strong sustainability practices Over 300+ breeds available Ships from different hatcheries	CHECK WEBSITE
	Townline Hatchery	Maintain all their own breeder flocks Grow their own corn for chicken feed Only carry day old baby chicks	CHECK WEBSITE
	Chickens for Backyards	Over 100 breeds to choose from Low minimum order Chicks come from multiple different hatcheries	CHECK WEBSITE
	Welp Hatchery	Free shipping Have multiple US hatcheries Minimum of 25 chicks	CHECK WEBSITE
	Happy Feet Hatchery	Chicks and juvenile birds available Located in FL allows natural year-round hatching Limited breeds available	CHECK WEBSITE
	Jenks Hatchery	Free Marek Vaccination Can ship to Canada Only ship day old chicks	CHECK WEBSITE

Still wondering where to buy chickens locally? You don’t have to anymore! Our extensive list of the top 14 hatcheries will deliver directly to your doorstep even when you are in Canada – talk about convenience! And, keep your worries at bay. These hatcheries take shipping to the next level so your next yellow fluff ball arrives healthy, safe, and of course, alive.

1. Cackle Hatchery – Best Overall Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Starts at $1.95

• Minimum order: 3
• Available breeds: Buff Laced Polish, Black Minorcas, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Stop scouring other websites that don’t have what you want. Cackle Hatchery, a third-generation family business, is the best chicken hatchery to get day-old baby chicks and adult chickens. They also have hatching eggs, turkey, game birds, and even poultry supplies.

While you only need to order three baby chicks, you won’t be able to contain yourself once you see all your choices.

It is important to check out the availability date for when your birds are hatching. Cackle Hatchery only ship baby chicks from February to September. This isn’t a bad thing, though. It means at Cackle’s, they follow nature’s rhythm and don’t use artificial lights.

Cackles is the best place to order chickens online if you are looking for a wide range of breeds from a hatchery in touch with Mother Nature. However, if you are looking for birds in winter, you will need to look elsewhere.

2. Stromberg’s Chicks and Game Birds Unlimited – One-Stop Shop

Details

• Price range: Starts at $3.79

• Minimum order: 5
• Available breeds: Blue Australorp, Dark Brahma, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Stromberg’s Chicks and Game Birds Unlimited is our top pick for your one-stop shop for all your chicken needs. They carry hatching eggs, baby chicks, and have mature chickens for sale. Beyond that, they have brooders, chicken feed, chicken diapers, coops, and more- everything your birds will need as they grow.

So, whether you are ordering chicks for the first time or rounding out your existing flock, you can order your birds and all the supplies they need. No more hunting through multiple websites and waiting for multiple orders. You save on time and hassle.

And Stromberg’s all has locations throughout the US, so your birds will arrive quicker and less stressed – less stressed birds are healthier birds. And that’s what you want.

If you are looking for less stress for you and your birds, buy from Stromberg’s. You can order everything you need in one place. And with hatcheries from coast to coast, your chicks spend less time in shipping and arrive healthier.

3. Murray McMurray Hatchery – Best Hatchery for Chicks

Details

• Price range: Starts at $2.10

• Minimum order: 6 
• Available breeds: New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red, and more 

CHECK WEBSITE

Having been in the chicken industry since 1917, you (and your baby chicks) are in safe hands when you order from Murray McMurray Hatchery.

Instead of a flimsy container, Murray McMurray Hatchery will ship your baby chicks in a custom-made, reinforced box. That means you’ll receive your chicks safe and sound! Completely eradicating your worries is the hatchery’s 48-hour live delivery guarantee.

Aside from their wide selection of baby chick breeds, Murray McMurray Hatchery also offers hatching eggs, juvenile birds, game birds, and more.

Murray McMurray Hatchery is a great choice if you want to buy chicks online. Their careful handling and live delivery guarantee can give you peace of mind.

4. Moyer’s Hatchery – Best Hatchery for Hybrids

Details

• Price range: Starts at $3.35

• Minimum order: 20
• Available breeds: Hybrids

CHECK WEBSITE

If you want to add some hybrid vigor to your flock this season, check out Moyer’s Hatchery. Their great selection makes them our top pick for the best hybrids.

And they take the health of your birds seriously at Moyer’s Hatchery. They are one of the few hatcheries that are certified by the Poultry Handling and Transportation program. Only qualified personnel will handle your order.

Not only that, but they vaccinate all chicks before they ship to your home.

If you are looking for high production hybrid birds, Moyer’s is the best hatchery for you. They guarantee you healthy, vaccinated chicks, so you don’t have to worry about anything but what to do with all those eggs.

5. J&M Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Starts at $3.75

• Minimum order: 10-15 depends on the month
• Available breeds: White Bantam Silkies

CHECK WEBSITE

While many hatcheries distinguish themselves by offering a wide variety of breeds, J&M Hatchery takes a different approach. Located in Pennsylvania, this family-owned hatchery focuses solely on one breed. Cute, fluffy White Bantam Silkies.

While this won’t appeal to all backyard chicken owners if you dream of owning a Silkie, order from here. The hatchery’s small size and limited selection let them give specialized care and attention to every bird. And better care equals healthier chicks, which is what you want for these cuddly chicks.

If you are looking for Silkies and don’t want to buy from a large commercial hatchery J&M Hatchery is a great choice.

6. Meyer Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Starts at $3.72

• Minimum order: 3-8 depends on the month
• Available breeds: Golden-Laced Polish, Black Sumatra, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Do you have a small flock, or are you looking for just a few birds? Meyer Hatchery’s super-low minimum order lets you order as few as only three birds!

They have over 160 different breeds of poultry to choose from, including baby chicks and mature birds. You can jump-start your flock by adding a few layers. Meyer Hatchery sells hatching eggs too!

And Meyer Hatchery mail order chickens year-round. So you can add to your flock whatever the season. However, free shipping is not available for all their poultry breeds. Free shipping is only for Golden Buff, Jumbo Cornish Cross Broilers, and Ranger Broilers.

Meyer Hatchery is a great choice if you are looking to add just a few birds to your flock. They have a wide selection of breeds and low minimum orders. They also ship all year round.

7. My Pet Chicken

Details

• Price range: Starts at $2.65

• Minimum order: 8
• Available breeds: Silkies, Ameraucana, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Looking for a hatchery with ultra-rare chicks for sale? Check out My Pet Chicken. They use a network of hatcheries across the US to provide a wide selection of chickens and help you find that elusive breed.

My Pet Chicken is also great for first-time chicken owners because they can get you everything you need, from baby chicks to coops. And if you have questions about your order, My Pet Chicken has super friendly and knowledgeable customer service agents who are there to help.

Whether you are a first-time chicken owner or someone looking to add that special breed to their flock, check out My Pet Chicken. My Pet Chickens’ broad selection and knowledgeable customer service agents mean they can help no matter what you need.

8. Ideal Poultry

Details

• Price range: Starts at $2.39

• Minimum order: No minimum
• Available breeds: Leghorns, Rhode Island Red, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

For four generations, the Fuchs Family has grown Ideal Poultry into the nation’s largest backyard poultry supplier. With over 50,000 breeders, they supply over 100 different chicken breeds.

Their large size allows them to maintain the highest standards of quality and innovation in their hatcheries. The state-of-the-art facilities mean healthier, higher quality chickens for you and your family.

With no minimum chick policy, you can order as few baby chicks as you want as long as your order is at least $30. You can focus more on the breeds you want and less on the quantity. Exactly what you want when you are looking for just a few high-quality chickens.

Ideal Poultry is a great choice if you are looking for a hatchery with a long tradition of supplying quality poultry breeds.

9. Purely Poultry

Details

• Price range: Starts at $2.36

• Minimum order: 10
• Available breeds: ISA Brown, Rhode Island Red, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Focusing on building alliances with breeders, Purely Poultry provides the most comprehensive selection of chickens around. From meat birds to exhibition hickens, you can get all the varieties you want in the same order. And they do all this using 100% sustainable energy.

With their network of breeders, they can supply just about every breed imaginable. And there is the bonus that they are super sustainable.

10. Townline Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Starts at $2.10

• Minimum order: 15
• Available breeds: Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Townline Hatchery takes a hands-on approach to hatch chicks. They hand tray the eggs and even grow their corn to feed their hens! That’s how you know someone cares about the quality of your baby chickens, just like you do.

And they don’t stop caring when the birds leave the hatchery. When you order during winter, they’ll pack extras, so your chicks can huddle next to each other and stay warm throughout the transportation.

Townline Hatchery is a great choice if you want a hatchery that takes a hands-on approach to chicks. They are personally involved in everything- from growing the corn to packing the chicks. That way, you can know you are receiving quality, healthy chicks.

11. Chickens for Backyards

Details

• Price range: Starts at $4.95

• Minimum order: 3
• Available breeds: Speckled Sussex, Buckeye, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Spice-up your flock by getting different breeds in one order from Chickens for Backyards.

Similar to other hatcheries, they offer a low minimum order quantity of 3 chicks per order. But what makes this hatchery stand is that you can mix and match! Yup, you can have three fluff balls in different breeds.

Chicken for Backyards’ low minimums allow you to buy as few as three, and they can even be three different breeds.

12. Welp Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Starts at $1.30

• Minimum order: 25
• Available breeds: Cornish Rock, Ancona, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

Do you want a larger flock with a little of everything? Check out Welp Hatchery. You have to order at least 25, but you can mix and match breeds to complete your order – order five of each breed, and you’ll get five different birds in the box!

With low prices and free shipping, you may find yourself ordering more chickens! And if you order in winter, don’t be surprised to see more chicks in the box. The people at Welp Hatchery want to make sure you get healthy, live chicks, so they often add a few extra chicks to stay warm in colder weather.

Welp Hatchery is perfect for someone looking to start a larger, more varied flock. They allow you to mix and match breeds to meet your minimum order. And they have low pricing. So you get variety and save money. It’s a win-win.

13. Happy Feet Hatchery

Details

• Price range: Need to contact directly

• Minimum order: 15
• Available breeds: Buff Orpington, Buff Brahma, and more 

CHECK WEBSITE

Located in Florida, the folks at Happy Feet Hatchery take advantage of their climate. Other hatcheries either don’t ship during winter or use artificial lights to stimulate laying. But you can order naturally laid-for-day-old chicks in the middle of winter from Happy Feet Hatchery.

They have birds of varying ages at the farm store, but Happy Feet Hatchery only ships day-old chicks. Either way, you should give them a call to find out their current stock.

They are always happy to chat with you about any questions you might have about your anticipated arrivals. That way, you are fully prepared when the chicks arrive.

If you want a more personal experience, give the folks at Happy Feet Hatchery a call. They will be happy to answer any questions you have about baby chicks while you place your order. And even in winter, you can be confident that your chicks hatched naturally.

14. Jenks Hatchery 

Details

• Price range: Need to contact directly

• Minimum order: 10
• Available breeds: Bantam Silkies, Barred Rock, and more

CHECK WEBSITE

America’s oldest hatchery, Jenk’s Hatchery, has over 100 years of experience. All their chicks ship directly from their 200-acre facility in Oregon. If you are local, you can still go and pick up your chick in person from their feed warehouse.

Jenk’s offers a good selection of breeds, and you can mix and match to meet the minimum order. And oh, every chick comes vaccinated against Marek!

If you are looking for a hatchery with a long tradition of providing quality healthy chicks, you won’t find one older than Jenk’s. For over 100 years, they have continued to deliver healthy quality chicks to homes like yours.

Chickens For Sale: Our Guide To Buying Chickens Online

With so many hatcheries out there, it can be overwhelming to order chicks online. You know you want your chicks to arrive healthy. But what factors really impact that?

In this guide, we will explain the different factors you need to know. And we show you how to know you are buying your chickens from the best online supplier for you.

Hatchery’s Reputation – How To Check

One of the best ways to check a hatchery’s reputation is to read reviews of that hatchery. Or to see what you really get, you can watch unboxing videos like this one with chicks from Cackle hatchery.

Also, read the hatchery’s policies and procedures, so you know exactly where they stand. Contact your local poultry association as well and request a list of qualified hatcheries. You can also get in touch with your local feed store and ask if they have any referrals.

Shipping Policy And Refunds

People have been shipping day-old chicks through the mail for over 100 years (1). This works because of the miracle of chicken biology. The Poultry Cooperative Extension explains that each baby chick is born with what it needs to survive the first couple of days. (2)

“After hatching, chicken chicks can survive for up to 72 hours without food because they survive on the yolk from the egg, the yolk sac, which is completely drawn into the chick’s body by day 20 of incubation.”

Even though they have what they need, the shipping process can be stressful for those babies. Some hatcheries add extra chicks to the order, keeping the chicks warmer while ensuring you receive the correct number of live chicks. Usually, these extra chicks are male.

Other hatcheries will offer a refund or replacements for chicks that are dead on arrival. Often the quantity of DOA chicks needs to be high for the hatchery to ship new chicks.

You don’t just want your chicks to arrive alive; you want the right sex chicks too. Most hatcheries will guarantee a certain percentage of correctly sexed chicks.

You should expect 90% or higher of your chicks to be the correct sex.

But mistakes do happen. Hatcheries usually will offer refunds for incorrectly sexed chicks. If sex is a big concern for you, make sure the hatchery has a rate of success.

If you are looking for a refund for either DOA chicks or incorrectly sexed chicks, make sure you apply within the correct window of time. It should be outlined clearly in the hatcheries policies.

Availability Date

Not all hatcheries can provide chicks year-round – they have different poultry operations. The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains how seasonality can affect a layer (3).