How to Buy Chinese White Crested Chickens

Chicken fanciers know that eye-catching Chinese white crested chickens provide beauty and companionship and make great pets, too. The Chinese white crested black polish breed is an attractive variety, friendly and known for its hardiness. A little advance thought and preparation makes buying your chickens enjoyable and exciting, and you'll delight in your exotic new pets in no time.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brooder
• Heat source
• Bedding
• Drinker/waterer
• Feeder
• Starter feed
• Grit

1. Prepare a home before buying your Chinese white crested chickens. You need to have a heated brooder kit already in service when your chickens arrive.

2. Decide whether to begin with hatchlings or full-grown hens. Baby chicks are adorable, but started pullets, or hens that have begun to lay, are easier to care for initially.

3. Locate a reputable hatchery from which to buy your chickens. The Internet is a fine way to locate a hatchery and place your chicken order.

4. Schedule your Chinese white crested chicken delivery carefully. Know what day they will arrive, and make sure you're home, or are available to pick the chicks up at the post office immediately.

5. Prepare yourself for the possibility that one or two of your chicks may not survive shipping, as some hatchlings are naturally weaker than others. Hatcheries generally allow for this, including one or two extra pullets or hens in your shipment.

Tips & Warnings

• Check local farm or garden supply stores in your area. Farm supply stores often carry baby chicks in the spring, and although they rarely carry fancy breeds, they will sell in small amounts.
• While roosters are pretty, they're not necessary for your hens to lay eggs. Roosters are noisy and loud, and don't crow only in the morning as commonly believed.
• Baby chicks require nearly round-the-clock care, so be prepared to monitor closely, checking on your chicks at least five times per day for the first four to five weeks.
• When buying chickens, be sure to order females. A straight run order includes both males and females, but you will end up with too many roosters.
• Hatcheries may require that you purchase a minimum amount of hens, which may prove overwhelming if you're a beginner.

Resources

• Check Murray McMurray Hatchery for fancy chickens and products
• My Pet Chicken offers products and advice
• Goodbye City Life offers numerous tips for buying chickens