If you are an experienced chicken farmer, you know the importance of finding good hatcheries. If you are a rookie and you want to find out more about the best chicken hatcheries in Arizona, keep reading. You will find what the best chicken hatcheries in Arizona are and some things to know when you decide to buy chickens.
Top 6 Chicken Hatcheries In Arizona
Finding a good hatchery is the most important step to take when you decide to raise chickens. Good hatcheries take care of their chicks – they provide them with plenty of space, fresh water and food, and they allow them to free-range.
The result is having happy chickens that are very good broilers and/or lay a lot of high-quality eggs. This way, you get chicks that are also happy and healthy, which can save you a lot of money and stress when you start taking care of them.
Some of the things that make a good hatchery are reviews, whether they are NPIP-certified or not, and communication with their customers. A good hatchery whose owners really care about animals will always answer your questions and clear your doubts.
Here are the best 6 hatcheries in Arizona based on the criteria above.
1. Az Chickens
This is an NPIP certified chicken family farm that focuses on rare breeds. Depending on the availability, you can expect to find various breeds – Black Copper Marans, Creme Crested Legbar, Barnyard Mixed Chicks, White Bresse, Rhode Island Red, Ayam Ketawa, and Blue, Black, and Splash Bresse Chicks.
The price depends on the breed. You can also buy hatching eggs if you prefer for 10$ to around 100$ per dozen eggs. They ship throughout the whole year, although they do not offer international shipping as of October 2021.
- Location: 7723 N 183rd Ave, Waddell, AZ 85355
- Phone: 602-699-4204
2. Pratt’s Pets
Pratt’s Pets is a huge story offering a wide variety of items for many different animals and pets. You can expect to find different feed and equipment for your chickens on their website. According to their Facebook page, they occasionally have live chicks, such as Silkies.
Make sure to follow their social media for regular updates as they sell quickly. Keep in mind that they currently do not offer shipping services, only curbside pickup. Pratt’s Pets is currently not NPIP-certified.
- Location: 856 S Alma School Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210
- Phone: 480-361-7000
3. Inspire Farms
Inspire Farms is a family-owned company whose goal is to provide people with organic, non-GMO feed for their poultry without having to buy in bulk. They also sell live chickens. Keep in mind that they are always female unless mentioned otherwise.
They offer Seramas, Black Australorps, Silverlace Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Sapphire Olive Eggers, Buff Orpingtons, and Gold Laced Wyandottes. The prices range from around 6$ to 10$ for baby chicks, 30$ for Seramas, and 65$ for Serama rooster. When you buy chickens from this farm, you can feel free to reach out to them with any questions you may have about raising your new chicks.
- Location: 206 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Phone: 480-684-2779
4. Old Town Horse & Pet
This is a locally-owned and operated pet store and a hatchery. It is run by a family of four members and they are passionate about providing the best products and high-quality livestock for their customers.
They offer various breeds depending on the season. Here are some of the breeds they raise – Ameraucanas, Welsummers, New Hampshires, Buff Orpingtons, Golden Wyandottes, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Light Brahmas, and Rhode Island Reds.
Keep in mind that they only sell pullets, which can save you some time and money on raising the baby chicks yourself. There is a 10% chance that you will get a male chick when ordering.
- Location: 5665 W Ajo Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85735
- Phone: 520-883-7387
5. Mesa Feed Barn
Mesa Feed Barn is a family-owned business that exists since 1973. Some of the breeds they offer are Golden Wyandotte, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, Australorps, and Easter Eggers. You can expect to pay around 10$ per chick. They are currently not NPIP-certified. They also offer necessary food and equipment for raising your pets.
- Location: 240 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210
- Phone: 480-969-9704
6. Phoenix Organic Feed
This hatchery is primarily focused on selling organic, USDA-certified feed. It started with just one guy wanting to save some money on eggs. Now, you can buy feed, supplies, and equipment for your chickens, as well as baby chicks.
The breeds this hatchery offers include Bielefelder, Rhode Island Red, Silkies, Brown Egg Layers, White Egg Layers, as well as rare and exotic breeds, among many others. You can buy baby chicks, pullets, and mature chickens.
They have pickup points in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Cornville, Show Low, and Flagstaff. The prices largely vary depending on the breeds and availability but you can be sure to find affordable chicks here.
- Location: 507 E Barbarita Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85234
- Phone: 480-577-5995, 480-545-5555
- Email: [email protected]
Things To Know When Buying Chickens In Arizona
Before you have a flock of chickens running around your backyard and providing you with food, there are some steps that you should take and some things to consider. Below are the things you should know when buying chickens in Arizona.
Check If You Are Allowed To Raise Chickens
The first thing that you have to do on a journey of raising chickens is to see if you are actually allowed to do so.
Depending on the particular city or district, keeping chickens may be prohibited. For example, if you live in Sun City, you should not plan on raising chickens as it is forbidden. Luckily for most people of Arizona, many areas of this state permit keeping chickens, with or without some conditions.
If you plan on having chickens in Phoenix, you are in for good news. Keeping up to 20 chickens is allowed, but without roosters, and at least 80 feet from any residential buildings.
Tucson allows up to 24 birds under a couple of conditions. Their coop should be at least 20 feat away from neighboring residences and you are allowed 2 chicks per 1000 square meters.
If you live in Scottsdale, you don’t have to worry about the maximum number of chickens you can raise. There is no cap as long as you don’t have any roosters and your neighbors are not complaining.
Sedona lets you keep up to four chickens for areas that are up to 20 000 square feet big, and up to six chickens for bigger areas. You are required to obtain a permit. Each of your chickens should have at least four square feet in a coop. A coop should be at least 25 feet away from adjacent buildings. If you live in Sedona, keep in mind that you are not allowed to keep roosters.
If you are a resident of Flagstaff, you are allowed to keep five to 25 chickens on your property, depending on its size. They should be kept in a rear yard and at least 20 feet away from neighboring buildings.
The ordinances change from area to area and you should always make sure to check with the local government about the latest implemented decisions and laws. Not meeting the requirements can lead to serious fines and sometimes even jail time.
Arizona Is Fairly Hot
Arizona is one of the hottest states in the USA. While most chicken breeds are usually well-accustomed to cold weather, not many of them are heat-hardy. This is one of the most important things you should know when buying chickens in Arizona for the first time.
Try to choose chickens that do well in hot weather. Some of the breeds that can be suitable are Rhode Island Reds, Brahmas, Egyptian Fayoumis, Easter Eggers, and Orpingtons.
Their body structure and the number of feathers make them less susceptible to heat-related illnesses and make them great breeds for Arizona farmers. These breeds usually originate from all-year-round hot places so they are built to tolerate heat well.
Even when you buy one of the heat-hardy breeds, you need to make sure that they are comfortable when it gets too hot. They should have fresh, cold water available at all times. Do not feed them too much so they don’t get dehydrated often. If you have an option, set up a misting system in your backyard so they can refresh whenever they need.
Finally, watch out for any of the warning signs that one or more of your chickens are experiencing a heatwave. If you see them panting, or if they seem confused, lethargic, or unwell, place them in a cold place as soon as possible and call your vet.
Maintaining Your Chickens
Once you have decided on a breed and taken your new chickens home, you are supposed to take good care of them. They should always have food and water available – make sure to give them high-quality feed and freshwater.
Allow them to free-range and get some snacks by themselves – this will keep them active and happy. Their coop should be properly ventilated and heated when needed.
Your chickens should also have at least four square feet for themselves – they don’t like to be crowded and they need their space. Finally, spend time with them. This will make them content and you will be able to see any potential signs of a disease or illness so you can react in a timely manner.
Summary
Keeping chickens is a great way to make your yard more lively. They can provide you not only with food, but also with love and joy. The first step to raising them is to check if you are allowed to do that, then you should choose one of the hatcheries in Arizona, and finally, you are ready to take care of them and enjoy all of the benefits these animals provide us with.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch.
