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My Pet Chicken, a Review

Customer Service & Shipment of Baby Chicks
How My Pet Chicken Handled a Problem Shipment

My Pet Chicken is a hatchery that ships sexed Silkie Bantams and Millie Fleurs, my favorites. They also are a hatchery that ships only a few birds, they deserve points for that. My Pet Chicken is high on my list of choices for ornamental chicks, and I’ve never had a problem with a baby chick shipment, until now.

Silkie Bantam
Mille Fleur d’Uccle
Breed of Chicks I ordered

My order of six chicks arrived yesterday, nicely packed with plenty of straw-like bedding in a nice sturdy box with ample ventilation. They were shipped on Monday and they arrived Tuesday at 2 pm, exactly what I expected.
Unfortunately, they were not handled with care either by the airlines or USPS, one Silkie was dead, and one Silkie and a Mille Fleur had broken legs. I was devastated. I’ve mail-ordered chicks many times over the last fifteen years with at least a 99% success rate. I wasn’t expecting to have any problems of this magnitude.
Unfortunately, I had to cull the injured chicks, and I must say, even though I’ve had my share of unpleasant tasks over the years having chickens… it was still traumatizing. It’s done, I’m over it, and focusing on my three healthy fuzzy butt chicks.
How Did My Pet Chicken Handle the Situation?
I called My Pet Chicken informing them of the poor arrival of my chicks. I didn’t know what I was expecting… after all, it wasn’t their fault this happened. Nevertheless, maybe I just needed to vent. So glad I called, customer service was beyond nice, and genuinely compassionate, and to my surprise, offered to send me replacement chicks or a refund for the 3 chicks lost. If that’s not customer satisfaction I don’t know what is. My Pet Chicken gets an A+ from me. 🙂

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Radiant Heat Chick Brooders

Chicks Stay Warm and Cozy

Radiant heat eases the burden and constant concern over the proper brooder temperature. Uses only 15 watts of energy versus up to 250 watts used by a heat lamp. A resourceful and safer alternative to a heat lamp, and less fire risk.
With radiant heat, your chicks stay warm from direct contact with the heated underside of the plate. It’s not hot, it’s just right. 🙂
Adjustable and Available in Different Sizes, and Brands
Easily accommodates the size of your growing chicks with 25 adjustable height settings ranging from around 1”-7” and can be customized to fit your flock’s needs.

A Few Choices…

Brinsea

This is the brooder I’m using, been working great for years.
Brooder for warming up to 35 newly hatched chicks. Safe 12 volt radiant-heated underside for producing uniform temperature. Price: Around $90. Available in Amazon

Rural 365 Brooder

Perfect for 10 to 20 newly hatched chicks. Adjust leg height so chicks can stand and have direct contact with the bottom of the chick brooder plate.
Available on Amazon.

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Best Time to Buy Baby Chicks in Phoenix is February

It’s Much Easier to Keep Baby Chicks Warm Than Trying To Keep Them Cool

Revised 4/9/25

Most parts of the country raise chicks in Springtime when the weather is mild. This gives the birds plenty of time to mature through the summer months and be fully feathered by Fall. Not the case here in Phoenix because extreme temperatures of 100+ can start as early as May and by June, reach 110+.
These conditions are not suitable for baby chicks, being this hot in a confined brooder is not only stressful but can be life-threatening. Chicks need to have a heat source, yes, this is true, but also need to be able to get away from it to stay comfortable.
Improper brooder temperatures also increase the onset of pasty butt (fecal impaction.) For these reasons, in Phoenix, it’s best to start chicks in February, and by April they are mature enough to slowly acclimate to our rising temperatures.
Remember, It’s much easier to keep baby chicks warm than try to keep them cool… which is impossible.
Chicks are Best Kept Outdoors
Raising chicks outdoors in a shed, barn, or garage is the best place to keep your baby chicks. They will most likely only need a radiant heat source. If the weather turns colder at night, a low-wattage heat lamp may assist in keeping the brooder temperature steady. You can buy low-wattage heat bulbs in the reptile section at your local pet or feed store. I usually use a red 75-watt bulb if the brooder temperature drops below 60 degrees. More on using radiant heat & heat lamps.

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