CHICKENS-WHERE DO I FIND STUFF?

Once you've picked your chicken breed, it is time to figure out where to buy them and where to buy their supplies.

Start by finding Hatchery outlets in your area. The Yellow Pages are a good start by looking under "Feed Companies". These will receive regular deliveries of chicks, usually every two weeks, during the spring and summer. The survival rates of day old chicks are better if they are shipped in large groups rather than in small batches via the post.

An ideal place to buy your chicks or chickens is from local breeders. Finding these can be tricky. Look for Poultry clubs for your state on the internet, and see if they have listings of members you can contact. A responsible breeder will be careful about allowing you into the chicken area though to prevent the spread of diseases.

There may also be poultry meetings or auctions you can attend to buy your birds. These can be found through the nearest poultry club.

In the Barrie, Ontario area, these are the best contacts.
Edwards Farm Store-Gets shipments from Freys Hatchery every two weeks, spring and early summer.
1574 9th Line, Innsifil, 705-436-2749. They are one line south of Stroud, right off Yonge St.

Performance Poultry-best local source for heritage breeds (anything but leghorns and rock cornish production birds). Internet order form sucks, and they sell out by March 1 for most shipment dates. Order early, call for their prices.

Huronia Fur & Feather-serves Simcoe County and beyond with meetings, buy & trade day (first Saturday in May), and membership list. Not a good internet contact, but the Hawkins are very friendly via phone and in person about answering questions and helping you find what you need.

SUPPLIES
Edwards Farm Store has feed and feeders as well as heat lamps.
Hewitt Creek Elevator, south of Stroud, pretty informal, call before you go. Source of large bags of feed.
Neighbours Country Depot, 5423 hwy 89E Alliston, 435-5573. Feed and feeders, heat lamps and bulbs, cage wire.
Bradford Co-operative Storage, Ltd., 61 Bridge St, Bradford, L3Z 3H3, (905) 775-3317