Getting Chicks at Tractor Supply Chick Days: What to Expect, What to Buy, and How to Prepare
Thinking about starting your backyard flock? One of the most exciting—and budget-friendly—ways to do it is during Chick Days at Tractor Supply. Held every spring and fall, Chick Days offer everything you need to bring home baby chicks, including a wide variety of breeds, feed, and brooder supplies. But if it’s your first time, you may be wondering what to expect—and how to be ready when you walk through those doors.
What Are Tractor Supply Chick Days?
Chick Days is a seasonal event held by Tractor Supply Co., typically from late February through April (spring), and again in some regions during late summer (fall hatch). During this time, the store stocks live baby chicks, ducklings, and occasionally turkey poults or bantams.
It’s a great time to start your flock with healthy, vaccinated chicks without waiting for online hatchery deliveries or paying shipping fees.
When Do Chick Days Start at Tractor Supply?
Chick Days usually begin in late February or early March and run for 6–8 weeks, depending on location and inventory. Southern stores may start earlier, while northern locations follow in mid-March.
Pro Tip:
- Call your local store to confirm exact start and delivery dates
- Chicks often arrive once a week—usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays
- Get there early—popular breeds sell out fast
How to Buy Chicks from Tractor Supply
Buying chicks in-store is simple, but there are a few rules to follow depending on your state and local regulations.
Steps to Buying Chicks at Chick Days:
- Choose your breeds (staff will label pens by breed and sexing)
- Pick the required minimum (usually 3–6 chicks minimum)
- Staff will box your chicks in ventilated take-home containers
- Pay at the register and head home with your new flock
Some states require you to buy chicks in multiples to prevent impulse purchases or abandonment. Most stores also limit total chick purchases per visit for biosecurity reasons.
Breeds You’ll Commonly Find at Chick Days
Tractor Supply sources chicks from reputable hatcheries, so you’ll usually find hardy and popular breeds ideal for beginners.
Common Chick Breeds Available:
- Rhode Island Reds: Excellent layers, great for beginners
- Pullets (sexed female layers): Often labeled as “Red Sex-Link,” “Amberlink,” or “Production Red”
- Barred Rocks: Docile, cold-hardy, good layers
- Easter Eggers: Colorful egg layers
- Leghorns: High-production white egg layers
- Assorted Bantams: Smaller, ornamental chickens (straight run)
Ducklings, guinea keets, or turkeys may also be available, depending on the store and time of year.
What You Need Before Bringing Chicks Home
Before you head to Chick Days, make sure your brooder is ready. Chicks need a warm, safe, and draft-free environment from the moment you bring them home.
Chick Starter Checklist:
| Item | Why It’s Needed |
|---|---|
| Brooder box or tub | Safe space to house chicks |
| Heat lamp or brooder plate | Keeps chicks at 95°F (reduces 5°F each week) |
| Pine shavings (not cedar) | Soft, absorbent bedding |
| Chick feeder | Small, clean container for food |
| Chick waterer | Prevents drowning or spills |
| Chick starter feed (medicated or not) | High-protein feed for growth and health |
Plan your brooder setup to be in a quiet, temperature-controlled room. Garage brooding is popular, but only works if temperatures stay stable and safe.
Medicated vs. Non-Medicated Chick Starter Feed
You’ll need to choose between medicated or non-medicated chick feed at purchase.
- Medicated: Contains amprolium to prevent coccidiosis—a common intestinal disease in chicks
- Non-medicated: Good if chicks are vaccinated or you plan to supplement naturally
Ask store staff if your chicks have been vaccinated against coccidiosis. If not, medicated feed is usually a safer choice for first-time keepers.
Tips for Choosing Healthy Chicks
Not all chicks are equally robust. Here’s what to look for when choosing which chicks to take home:
Pick Chicks That Are:
- Active, alert, and curious
- Standing upright, not huddled in corners
- Dry and fully fluffed out
- Clear-eyed with clean vents (no pasty butt)
Don’t choose chicks that are lethargic, peeping loudly without moving, or appear thin or unsteady. If in doubt, ask staff to pick for you.
Cost of Buying Chicks at Tractor Supply
Chicks at Chick Days are usually affordable, especially compared to online hatchery prices that include shipping.
Typical Price Range:
- $2.99–$5.49 per chick for standard breeds
- $4.99–$7.99 for rare or sexed pullets
- $3.99–$6.99 for ducklings or bantams
Buying 6 chicks may cost you around $18–$30, depending on breed and whether they’re sexed. Add $30–$50 more for starter feed and brooder gear if you’re starting from scratch.
Ready to Raise Happy, Healthy Chicks at Home?
1. Keep Chicks Healthy with Natural Remedies
Download The Doctor’s Book of Survival Home Remedies and learn how to boost chick immunity, treat pasty butt naturally, prevent respiratory infections, and support strong growth without antibiotics.
2. Build Your Own DIY Brooder, Coop, and Chick Feeders
Get the Woodworking and DIY Survival Blueprint to build custom brooders, chick tractors, and predator-proof coops using step-by-step plans—even if you’ve never built anything before.
Conclusion: Chick Days Are the Perfect Place to Start Your Flock
Tractor Supply Chick Days make starting your own flock easy, exciting, and budget-friendly. With a wide range of hardy breeds, helpful staff, and affordable gear, it’s the perfect entry point into backyard chicken keeping. But preparation is everything—having the right setup and knowledge ensures your chicks thrive from day one.
Take the First Step:
- Get The Doctor’s Book of Survival Home Remedies and raise naturally healthy chicks
- Download the DIY Coop Builder’s Guide and create a chick setup that lasts for years
Your flock begins the moment you pick up that warm, peeping box—make it count.