Looking for a chicken hatchery in Idaho to buy some baby chicks or fertilized eggs to hatch at home?
I’ve put together a list of all the hatcheries I could find that offer various breeds of ages of chickens. Keep in mind, that availability changes throughout the year.
Give them a call and see if they can help. Good luck!
Chicken Hatchery Idaho Listing
| Hatchery/Farm Name | Location | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheppard Ranch | Coeur d’Alene, ID | 208-964-9561 | https://www.thesheppardranch.com/ |
| Dunlap Hatchery | Caldwell, ID | 208-459-9088 | http://www.dunlaphatchery.net/ |
| Riggins Fancy Chickens | Riggings, ID | 208-628-2772 | http://www.rigginsfancychickens.com/ |
Sheppard Ranch
Address - Coeur d’Alene, ID
Phone - 208-964-9561
Contact - [email protected]
Website - https://www.thesheppardranch.com/
Dunlap Hatchery
Address - Caldwell, ID
Phone - 208-459-9088
Contact - NA
Website - http://www.dunlaphatchery.net/
Riggins Fancy Chickens
Address - Riggings, ID
Phone - 208-628-2772
Contact - NA
Website - http://www.rigginsfancychickens.com/
Ordering From an Online Hatchery
Sometimes it's just easier to order chicks from an online hatchery. It's not as difficult as you may think if you've never done it, and they usually turn up on your doorstep within days.
The hatchery I always use is Cackle Hatchery. There are one of the oldest, family-owned hatcheries operating online as far as I know, and they've been awesome to me.
They stock more than 200 varieties of poultry, have great prices, and quick service. If you can't find what you're looking for at local hatcheries, or just want the convenience of ordering online, I recommend it.
You can check out the latest prices and availability at Cackle Hatchery by clicking here.
Additional Resources
As there aren’t a lot of hatcheries and chicken breeders in Idaho, you might want to check out some local listings to find chicks.
Here are some listings on Claz.org. Obviously, as you would when buying anything from a private listing you need to act with caution. Check the tips below I outline for new buyers.
Things to Look for When Buying Chicks
Buying chicks, and even eggs to hatch yourself is a fun and interesting experience. Here are some tips to help you when buying chicks for the first time:
- Check the legalities of keeping chickens in your area. There may be a restriction on the number of chickens you can have, you (probably) might not be allowed roosters, and so on.
- When you’re ready to find some chicks, call a couple of places. Check out reviews online if there are any - if someone recommends somewhere that’s a huge plus.
- When you go to pick up your chicks check out the hatchery. Take a look at how they care for their animals, you want to do business with an ethical and professional seller.
- Take a close look at each of the chicks. They should have bright eyes, be moving around freely, breathing normally, no signs of discharge or dirt anywhere, and so on.
- Ask if they’re NPIP certified. This is a good sign that they test for diseases and look after their flocks to a high standard.
- When you’re happy you have healthy and happy chicks, take them home and start enjoying the wonders of being a backyard chicken owner!
Why Is NPIP Important?
NPIP stands for the National Poultry Improvement Plan. It’s important - although not mandatory - to buy from a hatchery or breeder who is NPIP certified as it shows they are testing their flock for diseases.
To be part of the NPIP, a seller has to test their flock routinely for a range of possible diseases. As well as maintain and breed their animals to a standard set by their guidelines.
The fact that it’s voluntary and not a legal requirement is actually a good thing in my opinion. It show’s a business is proactive about their animal care, so it’s a huge plus if a seller you’re buying from is NPIP certified.
