Hatcheries can be a great place to buy chickens but buyers should beware. If you’re interested in quality, or even truth, you’re likely to be disappointed by many farm supply stores and hatcheries.
Most people with small flocks want a colorful egg basket and variety in breeds. Nearly everyone who contacts me wants a blue egg layer. It sucks to buy chicks, raise them to laying age (usually 4-8 months depending upon the breed and line) and find a green or brown egg when you thought you’d have a blue one. Hatcheries and crappy breeders are the worst about false advertising.
For example, local farm supply stores and hatcheries almost always advertise Easter Eggers (also known as Americanas) as Ameraucanas. Ameraucana’s are an actual breed, unlike Easter Eggers/Americanas which are a mutt breed that can lay any egg color and have any physical characteristics. Ameraucana’s have specific physical characteristics and only lay light blue eggs. If you wish to have Ameraucana’s you’ll be better off buying from a quality breeder.
Internet photos may show a true blue egg or dark brown egg. Don’t fall for this. Either ask for a shell sample or for the actual egg color number.
Anyone advertising #9 color chocolate eggs is probably scamming you or are misguided. Egg color 9 is rare and often a fluke. I believe the Marans breeder club has color scales for sale, similar to the Ameraucana breeders club.
A Word About Breeders:
Few “good” breeders sell hatching eggs and chicks. The reason for this is because they like to grow out babies to select the best for breeding and/or showing. Some sell their “culls” and others won’t. You can attend the major shows to buy stock and start your own breeding program if working towards the Standard of Perfection (SOP) matters to you. If egg color and SOP don’t matter to you you’ll do just fine buying through hatcheries and farm supply stores.
BTW, my favorite hatchery is My Pet Chicken. They seem to be the only major hatchery who “gets it”. They have a great website and are a great option for those who only want small flocks with variety.