Should you live in the Old Dominion state we will take you through some of the best chicken hatcheries in Virginia and some of the things you need to know when raising chicks.
Nearly everyone loves chickens and would want to be a successful chicken keeper. Planning and starting to keep backyard chickens are much-related things.
All of them are part of the process of becoming a flock owner. It is important to establish trusted connections before starting your poultry-keeping journey. Keep reading to learn more.
Fancy Feather Farms
Fancy Feather is one of Virginia’s best and most popular hatcheries, where you can buy chicks and start your flock.
The hatchery is owned and operated by a family passionate about chickens. For years, the farm has supplied quality chickens to chicken keepers in Virginia and various parts of the United States of America.
They specialize in raising quality and healthy chickens of various breeds. Some of the breeds that you will find at the hatchery include Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Cochins, and Wyandottes.
The price of chickens at Fancy Feather Farms varies depending on several things, such as availability, breed, and age.
Some breeds are more expensive than others. You can also be sure of mature chickens being more expensive as compared to chicks.
Fancy Feather also sells hatching eggs. Therefore, you can buy fertilized eggs at the hatchery and hatch them at your home if you have an incubator.
They like to connect with their customers and will make a follow-up to know how your chicks are doing.
If you buy chicks at the hatchery, they will help you understand more about backyard chickens in general and give you tips on how best to raise your flock.
The farm is not NPIP certified. However, you can be sure of going home with quality chicks that meet the required breed standard.
They will give your healthy chicks that have been fully vaccinated for various poultry diseases. Fancy Feather does not ship its chicks.
If you are interested, you will have to visit the farm and select your desired chicks. They always advise their customers to contact them to confirm what they have before visiting the hatchery.
- Location: 9676 S Genito Rd, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
- Phone: 804-372-7227
Winterhorses Farm
Winterhoses Farm is an NPIP certified hatchery that aims at breeding and producing quality birds. They specialize in breeding different birds such as chickens, emus, and turkeys.
The hatchery has partnered with several top breeding lines from across the United States of America to supply chicken enthusiasts with quality chickens.
They select their chickens by following a certain breed standard. The hatchery is a member of various associations such as Marans Club of America, American Poultry Association, and Ameraucana Breeders.
All products at Winterhorses Farm adhere to the American Poultry Association (APA) standards. They offer chicken keepers a wide range of chicken breeds to choose from and add to their flock. Some of them include:
- Black Copper Marans
- Black Silver (Birchen) Marans
- Cream Legbar
- Lavender Marans
- Opal (Lavender Cream) Legbar
- Mottled Orpingtons (Black and Chocolate)
- Yeoman Ogle
- Silkies (Chocolate, BBS, Frizzled, Paint, Mauve, Showgirl)
- Bantam Cochin (Calico, Bobtail, Calico Frizzled)
- Easter Egger
- Olive Egger
All chicks at the farm are fully vaccinated before they are sold. Like most other hatcheries, the price of chickens at Winterhorses Farm will depend on different factors such as availability and breed.
Generally, their prices are fair as compared to most hatcheries. You can also buy fertilized eggs at the farm and hatch them with your incubator.
Winterhorses Farm ships its chicks across Virginia. Therefore, you do not have to visit the hatchery in order to get your chicks.
You can order them online or contact them to make an order, and they will be delivered to you as soon as possible.
- Address: 1225 Indian Creek Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322
- Phone: 757-377-3056
Furbelow Farms
Furbelow Farms hatchery was established in December 2006. It is a family-owned and operated chicken hatchery located in Gum Spring, Virginia.
They offer assistance and help when it comes to livestock. They are very passionate about livestock and raise them with a lot of care and passion.
The farm has specialized in providing a variety of animals such as alpacas, goats, pigs, sheep, ducks, and chickens.
They raise their birds using organic methods. Besides, all chickens at the farm are vaccinated and treated for various poultry diseases before being sold.
Therefore, you can be sure of taking home healthy and strong chicks with a higher survival rate.
Some of the chicken breeds that you will find at the hatchery include Rhode Island Reds, White Rocks, Black Australorps, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Ameraucanas, and Black Sex Links.
The prices of chickens at Furbelow Farms are fair. You can walk home with your favorite chicken breed for as low as $20.
They also have hatching eggs with prices starting at $48 per dozen. You can choose to buy their fertilized eggs and hatch them at home.
Furbelow Farms normally ship their products. If you are interested in buying from them, you will not have to visit the farm.
You can order your chicken or eggs online, and they will be delivered to your location as soon as possible.
They have a website where their customers can visit and check out some available products. You can also contact them through the website.
- Location: 96 Oak Hill Rd, Cumberland, VA 23040
- Phone: 804-396-5525
Death Farm
Death Farm is the last on our list of the best chicken hatcheries in Virginia. They maintain a passion for livestock, including chickens.
They have dedicated themselves to raising flocks of the best quality and selling them to chicken keepers in Virginia and other parts of the United States of America.
This is one of the best chicken hatcheries to buy your chickens from as they care for their animals as well as their customers.
The farm does not have a wide range of chicken breeds for you to choose from. The common ones include Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes. However, their chickens come at a fair price.
They are also easy to talk to and will guide you on how best to raise your flock once you have bought chicks at their hatchery.
If you want to buy from them, you will have to visit their farm because they do not ship their products.
You can call them to raise any concerns or questions and confirm the available breeds. Many customers have commended their work ethic and integrity, and many backyard chicken owners in Virginia trust them.
- Location: 13101 Ashland Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
- Phone: 804-798-9052
What To Consider When Buying Chicken In Virginia
Here are a few things you must know before buying chickens in Virginia.
Lawson keeping chicken in the state
If you plan to raise chickens in Virginia, you must be aware of the rules and regulations regarding chicken keeping in your area or city. By knowing this, you will avoid any extra taxation and penalties.
Here are the areas and cities that allow residents to raise chickens without a limit on the number of birds.
- Alexandria
- Ashburn: Roosters are allowed
- Arlington: Roosters are allowed.
- Blacksburg: Allows roosters
- Charlottesville: Allows roosters, although you will require a license
- Botetourt: Roosters are allowed
- Dayton
- Chesapeake
- Henrico County: Roosters are allowed
- Glen Allen: Roosters are allowed
- Loudoun County: Does not limit the number of chickens, although you will require a license
- Troutville: Does not have a limit on the number, and roosters are allowed
- Warrenton: Roosters are permitted in Warrenton
- Norfolk: Does not have a limit in number, although a permit is required
Here are areas where chickens are allowed but on a limit.
- Herndon: Allows only one hen
- Richmond: Allows a maximum of four hens and does not allow roosters
- Petersburg: Allows a maximum of 20 hens, including roosters
- Falls Church: The maximum number of chickens should be seven
- Roanoke County: Allows a maximum of six hens
- Vinton: Allows a maximum of six hens, and you must have a permit
Chickens are prohibited in Fredericksburg and Christiansburg.
The Climate in Virginia
Virginia has a sub-tropical and humid climate that secures its moderate rainfall throughout the year and warm summers.
The state also experiences mild but crispy winters. Your chickens may be at risk for dehydration in summer.
Therefore, you will have to keep a close eye on them and check the water in their spaces. Since the state is primarily cold, you should consider keeping cold-hardy chickens breeds such as Wyandotte, Welsummer, Australorp, Orpington, Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rock, and Delaware.
Here is how you can help your birds to cope during the cooler days of winter.
- Give them a sunroom
- Protect them against frostbite
- Minimized drafts in their space
Conclusion
Although it can be challenging to raise chickens, it is fun and worth it. Finding the right hatchery to buy your chicks from is the first step to success in poultry keeping. You can consider one of the hatcheries on our list.
