Hatcheries aren’t all alike, each one varies in quality and practices, learn the right questions to ask before you buy.
When you’re buying chicks from a hatchery, always ask if they’ve been vaccinated—especially for Marek’s disease, which is super common, spreads easily, and is almost always fatal. Most big hatcheries offer vaccines at the time of hatch for a small extra fee. But if you’re getting chicks from a local farm or small breeder, they might not be vaccinated. That’s usually because it costs more, or they don’t have the equipment. Some believe their small backyard flock isn’t at much risk, (absolutely not true.)
The most common vaccines protect against Marek’s, coccidiosis, Newcastle, and infectious bronchitis. Some are available to backyard chicken keepers, but they often come in large doses or need special storage, which makes them tough to use for small flocks.
Getting unvaccinated chicks can be risky, so it’s something to think about. It’s totally your call—but remember, unvaccinated chicks are more likely to get sick, and one illness can spread fast and wipe out your whole flock.
U.S.A. Hatcheries By Region
Personal Favorite
Ideal Hatchery Cameron, Texas
Midwest
Meyer Hatchery Polk, Ohio
Hoover’s Hatchery Rudd, Iowa
Supplies chick orders through mail-order and major retailers; known for a broad breed catalog from standard to hybrid layers.
Townline Hatchery Zeeland, Michigan
Operating since 1913, celebrated for healthy, productive layers and quality customer service.
Welp Hatchery Bancroft, Iowa
Established in 1929, renowned for Cornish Rock broilers and shipping from multiple hubs in the Midwest.
Woodbury Hatchery Wyndmere, North Dakota
Focused on high‑quality, day‑old poultry for family and hobby farmers.
Sunnyside Hatchery Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Known for jumbo broilers, heritage breeds, colored-egg layers, and dual‑purpose hybrids; detailed pricing for 2025.
Just Wingin’ It Hatchery Near Madison, Wisconsin
Specializing in shipping day-old chicks, including quail, chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, pheasants, and chukars. They focus on breeds suitable for backyard flocks and homesteaders.
Murray McMurray Webster City, IA
Cackle Hatchery Lebanon, MO
3rd generation family-owned and operated hatchery offering over 202 varieties of poultry
Stromberg’s Fort Dodge, Iowa
Live Birds and Poultry Supplies
Purely Poultry Kansas City, MO
Explore 150+ breeds and varieties of chickens to suit every flock.
Chicken For Backyards Phillipsburg, MO
Chickens for Backyards hatchery sells over 100 beautiful breeds of day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and guineas. We supply hobbyists and farmers with LOW MINIMUM ORDERS of AS FEW AS 3 FOWL when starting or adding to their flock.
Abendroth Hatchery Waterloo, WI
Whether you’re raising chickens on an large-scale farm or just looking for some unique breeds to keep in your backyard, we have something for you.
Mt Healthy Hatcheries Cincinnati, OH
As we move into our 4th generation of doing business, we want to take time to thank you, our customers. From 1924 to today we have hatched and sold millions of chicks throughout the nation. Our mission is to promise you to fill every order with the healthiest and highest quality chicks possible.
Southwest
Metzer Farms California
Ducks, chickens, geese, and more. Nationwide shipping.
Belt Hatchery California
Large selection of layer and meat-type chicks. Based in Fresno.
California Hatchery California
Sells online only; wide breed variety, vaccination options.
Alchemist Farm & Garden Sebastopol, California
Focus on rare and colorful heritage breeds.
Papa’s Poultry Redding, California
Heritage and rare breeds like Lavender Orpingtons and Blue Isbars.
Mill Valley Chickens Mill Valley, California
Specializes in backyard flocks, coops, and starter kits.
Dare 2 Dream Farms Lompoc, California
Chick delivery available to many SoCal and Bay Area locations.
AV Bird Hatchery Lancaster, California
Offers chickens, quail, turkeys, and hatching eggs.
Amber Waves Silkies Norco, California
Specializes in bearded Silkie bantams and exotic poultry.
My Poultry Farm Colorado Springs
Specializing in hatching purebred poultry and shipping day-old chicks nationwide. They emphasize high-quality, disease-resistant poultry suitable for various purposes.
C3’s Gallinaceous Hatchery Tonopah, AZ
Specializes in chickens and heritage turkeys. Local pickup and delivery by appointment.
AZ Homestead & Hatchery Queen Creek, AZ
Family-owned hatchery offering chicks year-round, focused on homesteading and education.
AZ Chickens Phoenix, AZ
Certified poultry farm with heat-tolerant breeds, offering local pickup and nationwide shipping.
Rising Sun Ranch Arizona
Breeds Silkies and backyard flock favorites. Offers local pickup and ships.
Pacific Northwest
Jenks Hatchery Tangent, OR
Nationwide Delivery Via USPS Priority Mail and Alaska Air Cargo Direct Shipping. We also ship to Canada.
Northeastern U.S.
Freedom Ranger Hatchery Lancaster County, PA.
Healthy chicks are hatched from naturally produced eggs with the level of attention you’d expect from free-range farms. Combine the shared values among our hatcheries with the best customer experience in the industry, and you’ve got every reason to buy baby chicks from our family of hatcheries.
Southeastern U.S.
Local Hatchery Beaverdam, Virginia
This hatchery offers a select few breeds tailored for local pickup. They focus on heritage breeds and provide custom hatching services for local flocks.
Pacific Northwest
Dunlap Hatchery Caldwell, ID
Dunlap Hatchery has proudly served our customers since 1918. We are a fourth-generation family-owned poultry farm that believes in hard work, honesty, and quality.
Multi-region, or Partner Hatcheries
My Pet Chicken Ohio, California, and Tennessee
Valley Hatchery Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, California, and Montana
Specializes in high‑quality backyard poultry with 85 breeds and over 210 poultry varieties.
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 