6 Best Chicken Hatcheries in Vermont 2024

Chicken owners searching for hatcheries in Vermont can take heart in knowing that the area is home to some of the best poultry breeders in all of New England. From specialty Silkies to Cream Legbar layers, these 6 Best Chicken Hatcheries in Vermont will supply you with fresh, healthy chickens!

1. Sugar Feather Farm

• Location: 1671 Chandler Rd, West Berlin, VT 05663
• Phone: +1 802-560-5606

Compassionate, human, beautiful: that’s the mantra of this Vermont-grown hatchery. And you can see it in their mission to grow non-GMO chicks.

If heritage and rare ornamental breeds are what you want to add to your flock, then Sugar Feather Farm is the place for you. For just $10 or lower, you can have the following breed:

• Silkie
• Serama
• Polish
• Easter Egger

Not only that, but they’re also NPIP certified, so you can guarantee safe and healthy chickens. Some of these breeds can be hard to find in the Vermont market and even the whole USA. Fortunately, they offer nationwide shipping and farm pick-up.

 

 

2. Hartsboro Hatchery

• Location: Hartsboro Rd, Wallingford, VT 05773
• Phone: +1 802-353-6226

Small as they may be, for now, Hartsboro Hatchery strives to be a new spot in the Vermont market. You can buy some of their eggs and chicks free-range from their barnyard-style farm as a starter.

 Their lowest starts at $10, where you can get a French Black Copper Maran. The next on their tier is the Cream Crested Legbar chickens which you can get for $20 per chick and $40 for a dozen of hatching eggs.

 

3. Flatlander Farm

• Location: 2148 VT-17, Starksboro, VT 05487
• Phone: +1 802-453-4631

The Flatlander Farm is not just a place for ducks and geese; they also raise a meat-centric flock of chickens. Other than chicken meat, they also sell live chickens of the Freedom Rangers kind. If you want to have some for your own backyard farm, this is where you can find them in Vermont.

With a special feed-conversion rate and reaching market-ready size quickly, the return on investment is unbeatable. These hardy chickens will explore your property every evening, looking for any tidbit of food they can find, from grubs to juicy baby berries!

 

4. Birdseye Bees & Poultry

• Location: 3236 McConnell Rd, Brandon, VT 05733
• Phone: +1 802-236-7085 

A mix of chicken and honey: if you are looking for these in Vermont, then the Birdseye Bee’s and Poultry is the place to be. This family-owned hatchery and honey farm is by Stephanie and Josh Davis. If you want straight-run chicks, then this is one of the only hatchery that sells it in the area.

For just $5, you can buy their day-old Lavender Orpington and Whiting True Blue chicks. Meanwhile, their Rhode Island Red is about $4. Their products are for pick-up only, so it’s best that you’re just around the area.

 

 

5. Four Springs Farm

• Location: 776 Gee Hill Road, Royalton, Vermont 05068
• Phone: (802) 763-7296

Upon purchasing this vast farmland on top of a Vermont mountain in July 2001, Jinny manifested her commitment to expanding her agricultural prowess after decades of experience. The result lies in a property along the scenic Green Mountain range and boasts a broad pasture suitable for different farming activities.

At Four Springs Farm, diverse poultry provides residents that fill the pastures with Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, and a number of Wyandottes. They mainly sell pullets at the start of the year or summer. So, if you want some, be sure to pick them up on the farm in January.

 

6. Misty Knoll Farms

• Location: 1685 Main St, New Haven, VT 05472
• Phone: +1 802-453-4748 

For delicious chicken and turkey dishes, look no further than Misty Knoll Farms for naturally raised poultry. Their always-healthy birds are free to roam their spacious housing, guaranteeing you succulent and flavorful birds every time. But they also sell some whole and live chicken as well.

If you’re looking for turkey and chicken products in Vermont, then this is the place to be. That said, they only offer farm pick-up in the meantime.

 

 

What to Look for When Buying Chickens in Vermont

Owning chickens in Vermont can be exciting, yet complex, with chicken breed and the legal regulations to consider. To ease your confusion on purchase decisions, we have put together this comprehensive guide for better info that you should look out for. Read on to learn the info you’ll need to make the process easier!

Local Regulations and Programs

Here are some of the local regulations and programs for the state of Vermont:

Biosecurity

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ Animal Health Office supports the USDA’s Region 1 office and neighboring New England states to ensure that all Vermont producers’ contact info is up-to-date and can assist them in setting up biosecurity standards on their farms.

In order to guard against unknown poultry diseases from affecting the flock, common practices known as ‘biosecurity rules’ must be employed.

If producers need reminders regarding online resources supplying topics about emergency preparedness, they should contact experts housed at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ Animal Health Office by phone at (802) 828-2421.

Importation Regulation

Anyone bringing a domestic animal into Vermont is required to provide proper official documentation, including veterinary certificates and permits, showing the pet is healthy and free of contagious illnesses. The same rule applies to livestock imported for exhibition or slaughter. So, if you’re planning to take in some chicks from another state, it’s better to just choose from your local hatchery.

In order to prevent the spread of contagious diseases within Vermont, if an animal is illegally imported without being tested or adequately inspected, it will either be returned to its place of origin in 48 hours or quarantined. If returning the animal to its source does not prove feasible, it should be euthanized and paid for by the owner.

Cities in Vermont Allowing Backyard Chickens

The following breakdown of the cities in Vermont and their restrictions centered on keeping chickens. It includes the maximum amount of chickens one can own. As well as whether owning roosters is allowed or not:

City	Limit of Chickens	Are roosters allowed?
Bristol Town	No Limit	Roosters Allowed
Burlington	6 Hens	Not Allowed
Hinesburg	No Limit	Roosters Allowed
South Burlington	6 Hens	Not Allowed
Winooski	10 Hens, permit required	Not Allowed

As you can see, three out of the five cities do not allow roosters as a backyard flock. Meanwhile, they are more lenient with hens.

Local Climate in Vermont

Vermont’s humid continental climate has a wide range of temperatures—cold in the winter and mild to warm over the summer. It’s key, then, if you’re a chicken owner in Vermont, that your birds be bred with a cold-resistant and hardy nature.

To provide adequate protection from the cold, chicken housing should include features such as insulation and proper ventilation to prevent moisture buildup. Providing bedding and a possible heat source is essential for chickens to come wintertime.

Fortunately, during summer months, chickens generally react well to moderate Vermont heat. But, always ensure shade is available outdoors, as this, along with access to fresh water, will regulate their internal body heat efficiently. An additional idea is to give chickens access to a dust bathing area, which can help them manage their temperature.

Recommended Breeds

As we said, Vermont can be a home to colder winter months. So, here are some breeds you can keep:

Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Red stand out for having the superior cold hardiness needed to survive. Also, during shorter daylight hours of winter,  it can provide a consistent supply of large brown eggs all year round.

One thing that makes these birds so appealing is their playful nature and ability to search instinctively for food sources available within their surroundings.

With their energetic and curious nature, Rhode Island Red chickens thrive in backyard or free-range environments. Additionally, their friendly disposition makes them a great fit in backyard farms the state of Vermont.

Plymouth (Barred) Rock

Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock) is an ideal breed of chicken for keeping in Vermont because it can endure chilled weather and tricky weather patterns, and produces plenty of eggs. Much like Rhode Island Red, its hardy nature makes it an excellent candidate.

Plymouth Rocks have a sturdy and compact build, enabling them to tolerate colder temperatures with minimal risk of frostbite on their medium-sized combs and wattles. This hardy breed is also less susceptible to common poultry diseases and knows to produce large brown eggs consistently all year round despite short daylight hours during winter seasons in Vermont.

Furthermore, Plymouth Rocks possess a gentle temperament that makes them easy to manage, meaning they are suitable for both free-range and confined environments. All these qualities combined make this chicken breed evenly suited for backyard chicken keeping in Vermont’s environment.

Conclusion

Whether you are raising chickens for eggs or more ornamental reasons, one thing is sure; there’s somewhere in Vermont you can find them. These 6 Best Chicken Hatcheries in Vermont are scattered across the Green Mountain State, so you’re sure to find one close to home.