Oh goodness. I've been noticing more of these articles too. I really should get a rooster soon while it's still legal to buy and sell chickens. My poor husband so loves to sleep in an extra hour on the weekends but... Oh well.
I highly suggest it. And definitely try to buy local from a farmer or something. Not commercial as I'm guessing that is how it will " get here".
Can I ask why you suggest purchasing from a local farmer? Our neighbor does sell chicks. My husband and I only just bought and moved into our first home and we're not very experienced yet with chicken ownership! He's concerned about getting a rooster that will be a breed that can maximize egg production and be decent meat chickens as well. We have only female australorps right now. So he wants to buy from the breeder so we can get an Australorp rooster. Just seemed like the thing to do. Our neighbor's chickens are just... Products of generations and generations of mixed breed chickens! Just like I grew up with, because our rooster was a different breed than any of the hens we started with and they were all different breeds themselves. I don't know, we have lots to learn. We do support our neighbor in ways other than buying his chicks. So far the chicks we've gotten from the breeder we used last time in Montana have seemed quite healthy. Except one who just seemed... Neurologically different. Like she seemed to totally lack any chicken instincts and would just stand there and not do anything ever. Only ate when I hand fed her and eventually I just let her go because she clearly didn't want to live.
Once our child is born and the chickens are settled in and the garden is going strong we plan on breeding pigs for meat as well. We have no idea what we're getting into really! I had pigs growing up but they were just pets. Lots to learn.
I suggested local only because if they come from healthy stock and free range etc, they tend to be healthier and plus you can bet they aren't a sick animal pumped up on steroids or antibiotics.
I hope the best for your family and baby on the way and raising pigs. Don't overwhelm yourself 😁
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