In this article, we will discuss some of the best chicken hatcheries in Wisconsin and tips on raising backyard chickens in the state. Keep reading to learn more.
Raising backyard chickens comes with its challenges. However, it can be a rewarding experience with several benefits if managed well from the beginning.
One of the most challenging things you may likely encounter when starting your flock is finding an appropriate place to buy your chicks from.
The Best Hatcheries in Wisconsin
There are several things that you must consider when buying chicks to raise. The safest place you can buy from is a good-rated and reliable hatchery.
The hatchery must be NPIP certified. The hatcheries on our list have many years of experience in raising chickens. You can therefore be sure of getting happy and healthy poultry.
They also offer a wide variety of chicken breeds that chicken keepers can choose from, depending on their needs and conditions that they can provide for their birds. Here are the best hatcheries in Wisconsin:
Sunnyside Hatchery
Sunnyside hatchery is one of the oldest hatcheries in Wisconsin. Its origin dates back to 1912. The hatchery has been raising chickens for more than a century. Sunnyside Hatchery is NPIP certified and offers backyard chicken keepers a wide variety of chicken breeds.
Some of the chicks that you can find at the hatchery include:
- Sunnyside Jumbo Broilers
- Sunnyside Rangers
- White Leghorn
- Rhode Island Reds
- Sunnyside Rainbow Eggers
- Barred Rocks
A lot of their birds are Sunnyside originals. Specialists breed them at the hatchery for egg or meat production or dual-purpose birds. The hatchery sells its products to farmers at a fair price. Depending on the age of the chicken and breed, the price per chicken ranges from as low as $1 up to $2.
If you buy chicks from Sunnyside Hatchery, they will ensure that you go away with healthy chicks of your desired breed. They vaccinate their chicks before selling out to chicken enthusiasts. They deliver chicks within Wisconsin and its surrounding areas. You can contact them to enquire about their services and make an order.
- Phone: 920-887-2122
- Location: 104 Beltline Dr, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Abendroth Hatchery
Abendroth Hatchery is an NPIP certified hatchery that has been serving backyard chicken keepers in Wisconsin since 2000. It was originally started in 1965 as a hobby. Since they, they have won a reputation for themselves because of the quality of poultry services.
The hatchery has specialized in producing a wide range of standard breeds. Some of the breeds that you can buy from them include:
- White Rock
- Barred Rock
- Tetra Brown
- Silver Laced Wyandotte
- Rhode Island Red
- New Hampshire Red
- Production Red
- Golden Laced Wyandotte
- Ameraucana
- Brown Leghorn
- California White
In addition, they produce rare chicken breeds such as Welsummer, White Crested Polish, Dominique, Lavender Orpington, and Salmon Favorelle.
Considering their wide selection, the price of chickens at the hatchery varies a lot. Some breeds are more expensive than others.
You can buy a standard breed at the hatchery with as low as a dollar. On the other hand, the price of rare breeds at the hatchery starts from about four dollars.
Abendroth Hatchery ship their products within all states in the USA. All of their chicks are healthy and raised using organic methods.
Therefore, if you choose to buy from them, you will be sure of going away with quality healthy chicks of your desired breed. You can contact them to make an order or to enquire about their poultry services and products.
- Phone: 920-478-2053
- Location: N363 Hubbleton Rd, Waterloo, WI 53594
Lund Poultry
Lund Poultry has been in the poultry industry for more than two decades. They started raising chicks in 2000. Over the years, they have won a reputation for themselves because of their excellent products and services.
The farm is now popular in Wisconsin, and many chicken enthusiasts frequent their hatchery to buy their desired chicks.
The hatchery is now NPIP certified. Besides selling chicks to farmers, they also exhibit their chickens at shows. They have specialized in producing four major breeds of chicken: Salmon Faverolle, Black Cochin, Buff Brahma, and Vorwerk.
The price of chicks at the hatchery starts from $15 each. This will largely depend on the breed that you are buying. If you buy chicks from them, you will not have to worry much about their health since they are vaccinated before being sold.
Lund Poultry also ships their chicks with an order going for $70. They do not sex their chicks.
- Phone: 608-513-2308
- Location: 3764 W Union Dane County Line Rd, Brooklyn, WI 53521
Purely Poultry
Purely poultry has been producing chicks for many years. The hatchery is NPIP certified and ships its chicks across the United States of America.
If you are looking for a hatchery that offers a wide range of chicken breeds, then this is a perfect option that you should consider. They raise more than 150 different breeds of chickens.
Chicks at the hatchery are always vaccinated before being sold to chicken keepers. If you buy from them, they will ensure that you take home healthy chicks only. Some of the egg-laying chicken breeds that you will find at the hatchery include:
- ISA Browns
- Barred Plymouth Rocks
- Black Australorps
- New Hampshire
They also have broiler chickens such as Kosher King, Delaware, Free Range Broilers, and Cornish Cross. In addition, you can buy from them heat-hardy chicks, cold-hardy chicks, and dual-purpose chickens.
The price of chicks at the hatchery will depend on the breed that you want. Because they raise several chicken breeds, it can be easy to find affordable chicks. They have a product accuracy guarantee and a gender guarantee.
- Phone: 920-472-4068
- Location: 705 Fremont St, Fremont, WI 54940
Shamrock Farm
Shamrock Farm is a hatchery located in Hudson and is certified NPIP certified. They offer large fowl such as Wyandotte and Russian Orloff. They also have bantam chick varieties of various breeds like Wyandotte and Brahma.
The hatchery supplies chicken keepers with healthy chicks that have been vaccinated. Their prices are affordable and depend on the breed you are buying.
If you purchase several chicks from them, you can be sure of a bonus of five chicks for every twenty chicks of the same breed that you buy.
- Phone: 608-546-2205
- Location: 9492 County Rd N, Plain, WI 53577
Things to Consider When Buying Chicks in Wisconsin
Before raising chickens in your backyard, it is important to check and confirm if you are allowed to do so. You may not be allowed to keep many chickens at home or keep them without a permit.
Doing so may result in a jail sentence or even be charged money. If you are in Wisconsin, here are a few things that you must consider before going ahead to raise chickens.
Local Laws and Regulations
Before you start raising chickens, you should always confirm if you can keep them. You must be aware of the rules and regulations concerning keeping chickens in your city, village, or town. This is an important step because rules may defer depending on your residence.
Premises Registration
If you want to keep chickens in Wisconsin, you will have to register your premises, regardless of the number of birds you are raising. The process is free and can be done quickly.
The main aim of registration is to keep track of dead or infected birds in order to control and minimize the spread of diseases.
During registration, you will be required to provide your name, phone number, address, type of livestock, and other potential information required.
Permits and Prohibitions
Another important thing that you will need to be aware of is the requirements and limitations of keeping chickens in your city.
If you are a resident in Milwaukee, you can keep up to four chickens. However, roosters are not allowed.
You can keep chickens for eggs or as pets, but you are not allowed to slaughter them. Another important thing to remember is that you must have a permit before bringing your chickens home.
The same rules apply in Madison. You will have to get a permit first and then renew it yearly. You cannot raise roosters, and hens require a separate coop located away from neighboring lots. Residents are allowed to keep up to four chickens.
Different towns and residential areas in Wisconsin have their own rules and prohibitions concerning keeping chickens. Therefore, you must be aware of them before raising a flock.
Climate and Weather
When buying chickens, you must always keep in mind that some breeds can only do well in certain climates. The climate in Wisconsin is continental.
This means that winters can get very cold while summers are warmer. You should, therefore, go for winter-hardy breeds. Some of the breeds that can do well in this climate include:
Conclusion
Wisconsin is one of the best states in the USA where you can raise backyard chickens. There are several hatcheries where you can buy your chicks from. However, before purchasing chicks, you must be aware of the laws about chicken keeping in your location. It would be best if you also went for cold-hardy chicken breeds.
