Are you living on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and looking to start or expand your flock? If so, you might be looking at buying and shipping chicks to Puerto Rico, especially if you are looking for specific chicken breeds. There are multiple chicken hatcheries in the states that offer shipping of baby chicks along with options for buying chicks locally on the island.
As someone who has ordered chicks to Puerto Rico, I can tell you that there’s nothing quite like the anticipation of waiting for that box of fluffy, chirping birds to arrive at your local post office!
This post is all about buying and shipping baby chicks to Puerto Rico along with my experience ordering from Cackle Hatchery, Ideal Poultry, and Meyer Hatchery. If you are looking for a local chicken hatchery in Puerto Rico, I’ll also provide local options available on the island for hatcheries.
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Chicken Hatcheries that Ship to Puerto Rico
Cackle Hatchery
When I decided to start keeping chickens, my first step was to look for where I could buy baby chicks. After some research online and browsing through various chicken forum posts, I stumbled upon Cackle Hatchery. A few people talked about successfully ordering and shipping baby chicks to Puerto Rico from this hatchery.
As I looked through their website, I couldn’t resist the charm of the Speckled Sussex breed – I mean, have you seen those Speckles? I knew that this was the chicken breed I wanted to start with as they were known for being a sweet and docile breed of chicken. Perfect for someone just starting with keeping chickens.
Cackle Hatchery has a 3 chick minimum, which was exactly what I was looking for since I wanted to start with a small flock. I excitedly ordered 4 female Speckled Sussex chicks, and to my surprise, the hatchery threw in a 5th chick at no extra cost.
The chicks arrived in Puerto Rico within 72 hours and although my smallest chick, Chicki, was a bit slower to eat and drink compared to her siblings, she soon caught up and was healthy. I was relieved to see that all of the chicks were in good condition and thriving. Although one of them did turn out to be a rooster, I’m happy to report that all of my chickens from Cackle are still happy and healthy to this day.
Visit the Cackle Hatchery Website
Ideal Poultry
When I heard the first crow come from my supposed-to-be female Speckled Sussex, I knew I had to add more chickens to my flock. Seeing as I only had 4 hens to 1 rooster ratio (and so begins the so-called chicken math chicken keepers speak of)!
In September, I began looking for hatcheries that still had chicks available for purchase, but some of them only shipped at certain times of the year. Fortunately, Ideal Poultry ships year-round and has a $40 minimum order requirement. I had my eye on adding Buff Orpingtons and Australorps to my flock. To my delight, Ideal Poultry bred both Black and Blue Australorps. I ordered eight chicks, which brought me to the minimum order amount and a good number of hens to go with my rooster.
When the 8 chicks arrived on the morning of day 2 of their shipment everyone was healthy and very energetic! The 3 little Buff Orpingtons came straight out of the box to run around checking everything out. The Australorps were also very energetic, although a bit more reserved than the Orpingtons.
Visit the Ideal Poultry Website
Meyer Hatchery
Meyer Hatchery has a wide variety of different breeds and they offer a 3-chick minimum April through November and 8 December through March. You can also mix and match your breeds, so if you want to get 3 different types of breeds in your 3 chick order, you can.
Meyer Hatchery does have to obtain a permit and I found the language on the site a little confusing. I spoke to them and they assured me that they obtain the permits required and handle everything on their side. While that is true, once your order is placed, Meyer sends you their NPIP certificate for your baby chicks. Once you receive this, you must contact Oficial Estatal de Salud Animal (SAHO) and send a $50 money order or check for a permit.
I ordered 4 baby chicks in May of 2024, a Cream Legbar, an Opal Legbar, and two Bielefelders. Unfortunately, when my chicks arrived, I sadly opened the box to find only 1 chick had survived the trip. This was my first ever chick loss and it was heartbreaking. I ended up ordering 4 more chicks from Cackle Hatchery (who all arrived alive and well) to have as friends for my lone survivor chick. I named my lone Bielefelder survivor, Solo. She has been super healthy and is a beautiful chicken. If I were to order again from Meyer Hatchery, I would order more than 4 as I wonder if they could of hit bad weather or been kept somewhere too cold and there weren’t enough chicks to keep them warm. I’ll never know but I don’t hold it against the hatchery as you just don’t know what happened in transit.
To sum up, ordering from Meyer Hatchery does allow you to have more breed options, without needing a minimum number per breed, however, they are more expensive, you need to obtain a permit (additional $50). This is the only hatchery on this list that requires a permit.
Visit the Meyer Hatchery Website
GreenFire Farms
I recently discovered that GreenFire Farms ships to Puerto Rico! Although you can’t order directly from their website, you can email them to place an order. I’m especially excited because GreenFire Farms offers rare and stunning breeds you won’t find at other hatcheries.
Visit the GreenFire Farms Website
Alchemist Farm
Alchemist Farm has started shipping to us in Puerto Rico! They are a small family owned hatchery that really cares about their chickens and the planet. While I’ve not yet ordered from them I do follow them on their instagram and love to see how much they care about their chicks.
I also love how they are a humane hatchery and their website states that “no male chicks are killed on our farm as they are at large scale hatcheries and all of our breeding groups are free to roam on their separate pastures”.
Visit the Alchemist Farm Website
Puerto Rico Hatchery | Best Place to Buy Baby Chicks Puerto Rico
If you are looking for the best place to buy baby chicks locally on the island, some great local hatchery options are available. Both Gallinas Urbanas and the Pío•Pío Farm offer a variety of chicken breeds. I have not personally purchased chicks from either of these hatcheries.
Gallinas Urbanas
The Gallinas Urbanas farm located in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. I love that they list their chickens are living happily outside free-ranging and being raised humanely and they have a great selection of different chicken breeds.
They said that they sell sexed chicks with an 80 % accuracy (i.e. pullets = girls, cockerels = boys).
Visit the Gallinas Urbanas Farm Website
Visit The Gallinas Urbanas Farm Facebook
Pío•Pío Farm
The Pío•Pío Farm is located in San German, Puerto Rico. If you’re looking for specific breeds they routinely post photos of their available chicken breeds that they have for sale.
I reached out to find out if they sell sexed chicks, however I did not receive a response.
Visit the Pío•Pío Farm Facebook
Do you know of another hatchery that ships to Puerto Rico, a local PR chicken hatchery, breeder, or Agricola in Puerto Rico that sells chicks? I’d love to hear from you!
Continued Reading for Raising Baby Chicks Posts
- 7 Best Essentials for Raising Baby Chicks
- 13 Things to Know When Raising Baby Chicks
- Everything Your Chickens Will Need in Their Adult Chicken Coop
- How to Determine How Many Chickens You Want to Start With
- How to Bond with Your Chickens
- How to Raise Super Friendly Chickens
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Hi there! I’m Jess, a backyard chicken keeper living on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. With my flock of 15 friendly chickens, my mission is to help others feel confident about raising happy, healthy, and super friendly chickens. My dream is that everyone gets to know the love of a chicken and experience the joy they bring to your life.
Me interesa que ubicación tiene el criadero de San Germán ó número de teléfono a llamar.
Hola Flor! They are located at Carr. 102, San German, Puerto Rico and they have a WhatsApp: 939-259-3257.
Hello, trying to obtain the permit to buy chicks from Meyer and import to Puerto Rico but can’t locate the place to get the permit.
Would you have a phone number?
Thank You
Hola George! Once your order is placed with Meyer, they email you their NPIP info and the links you will need to fill out the form to submit for the permit number. I emailed the email listed here after I received the NPIP info from Meyer (Phone # is also listed): https://www.aphis.usda.gov/media/document/1546/file.