When sourcing hatching eggs, chicks, or pullets for your backyard flock, it’s important to understand how they were raised.
Humane and sustainable small-scale hatcheries are hard to come by, and it’s even more rare to find farms that offer shipping. It took me a bit of digging and researching to find any that weren't large-scale and unsustainable.
However, luckily for us, the animals, and the planet, there are some farms that meet our qualifications for eco friendly and humane chicken raising.
In this article, you’ll find a list of hand-selected farms that are sustainable and ethical. Now you have a wealth of resources to have ecologically-raised chicks for your backyard or farm.
Here are the criteria we looked for when selecting which chicken hatcheries should be included in our list:
These criteria ensure that sustainable chicken hatcheries prioritize the well-being of the birds, minimize environmental impact, and promote efficient resource use.
Shipping Available
Alchemist Farms is doing amazing work in the poultry-rearing scene in terms of their dedication to humane and sustainable practices.
Located in Northern California, Alchemist Farms checks a lot of boxes in my qualifications list.
They offer heirloom chicken varieties that are pasture-raised and treated humanely. Their operations are regenerative-based and permaculture-inspired. From Pasture rotation to composting their chicken manure and planting cover crops, they are a shining example of what a poultry farm should be.
They power their farm with 100% solar power, and all of their packaging is plastic-free. They also live a zero-waste lifestyle.
What puts them at the top of the list is that they are a no-kill chicken facility, and give roosters to families in need.
They are NPIP members, and offer shipping within the United States.
Their only potential downside is that they do not offer any vaccinations for their chicks. That might be preferable to you, or it may be something you can DIY upon the arrival of your chicks.
Alchemist Farm offers the following 13 chicken breeds:
→ Learn More About Alchemist Farms
Shipping available
This New Jersey Farm is working hard to create a humane and sustainable chicken hatchery. They are a Black Woman owned business.
All of their chickens are pasture-raised, with the option to free-range at any time during the day. They rotate pasture regularly, keeping with regenerative standards.
While Wildflower Farm is not certified organic, they do follow (and sometimes go beyond) organic standards. For example, their farm is pesticide-free, herbicide-free, and synthetic fertilizer-free. Wildflower Farm is one of the few farms that I found that offers certified organic soy-free grain feed to their animals.
The only potential downside is that they do not offer vaccinations to their chicks, so you would need to buy hatching eggs or pick up birds directly from the farm to give them their vaccinations in time.
Wildflower Farm offers the following chicken breeds:
→ Sign up for Wildflower Farm’s Newsletter to learn more about ordering from them
Shipping available depending on stock
Heritage Stone Farm in Upstate New York works with regenerative and sustainable farming methods to tend to heritage breeds of livestock.
I am pleased to report that this is a no-till farm that utilizes a multi-species pasture-rotation system. They leave areas of their land wild, and work on woodland preservation as well.
As a Livestock Conservancy member, they offer hatching eggs and breeding stock of the following varieties:
→ Contact Heritage Stone Farm to get on their Chicken Waiting List
Shipping available
Spring Creek Heritage Farms out of Washington State offers rare and heritage chickens.
What makes this farm sustainable is that they ensure no harmful herbicides or pesticides ever come into contact with their animals.
Spring Creek grows organic pasture cover crops to offer feed to their chickens, who also get to roam their forested land. This is especially noteworthy as it’s rare to see a hatchery focus on growing their own crops to offer to the chickens.
They allow roosters to come of age in order to go from farm to table if not kept as breeding stock. They do not kill chicks, and their straight-run policy helps them to maintain a humane setup.
Spring Creek is NPIP Registered.
They steward the following chicken breeds:
→ Learn more about Spring Creek Heritage Farms
Oregon Local Pickup Only
Dot Ranch is located around 1.5 hours south of Portland, Oregon, and are a pickup only facility.
However, they still made the list because of their sustainable and humane practices.
Mickey, the owner of Dot Ranch notes on their website that “we pride ourselves on our stewardship of both land and animal.”
Mickey has a background in ecological restoration and agriculture during her time in service, and applies that mindset to her farm.
All animals are pasture raised and have access to grazing with supplemented hay when outside grass isn’t growing. Restorational grazing helps keep the animals and land healthy.
They keep detailed health records of their birds and never use hormones or medically unnecessary antibiotics.
Hens are allowed to be broody so that they can naturally hatch their own eggs. This instinct is important for the preservation of the breed.
On their land, they are working to restore the natural oak savannah habitat.
Dot Ranch focuses on Mottled Java and Java chickens, an endangered breed with the Livestock Preservation Project.
They also have a mix of Black Copper Maran and Java (Javarans) that improves on the hardiness of the Black Copper Marans while keeping their gorgeous egg color.
All chicks are sold as a straight run, so you will get a mix of male and female chicks.
Local Ohio Pickup Only
Fleece and Feather is an Ohio-based farm that does not offer shipping. However, they have some amazing practices that I want to highlight here. They do offer local pickup of their hatching eggs, chicks, and breeding stock.
Fleece and Feather are stewards of the Dominique breed of chicken, the breed of chickens that came over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. This endangered breed is listed on the Livestock Conservancy.
What makes Fleece and Feather stand out is their practices: They are Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World, and are working on their Non-GMO and Regenerative Certifications.
The AWA Standard as set by A Greener World includes tending to the health of the chicken above all else. There are lots of components of this certification that help farmers to implement practices that prevent disease from occurring. Debeaking, declawing, and other mutilations are strictly prohibited.
Unless weather causes unfavorable conditions, birds can free range and forage as early as a few days up to 4 weeks of age and onwards.
They have a free-range pasture rotation system for their animals, and understand the regenerative processes necessary for animals to build up the health of the soil.
Fleece and Feather is also NPIP Certified.
→ Learn more about Fleece and Feather Farm
Alaska-based, might offer shipping
Blood, Sweat, and Food Farm is located in Homer, Alaska. What makes them stand out to me as a great resource for hatching eggs and chicks is their regenerative focus.
As they say on their website: “We start from the ground up, literally, and focus on building great soil first.”
Their chickens are a part of a multi-animal pasture rotation system. The manure from all of their animals goes back into the soil regeneration system.
They sell ready-to-lay pullets, but do not mention the variety on their site. They are offered seasonally. They do offer shipping on some of their products, but it’s unclear as to what shipping is offered for hatching eggs and live poultry.
While the term “hatchery” is in their name, Graywhale Farms is not your standard extra large factory hatchery.
Instead, this Wisconsin-based farm is all about building soil health with no-till farming and pasture-rased hens. They steward heritage and rare breeds, and employ humane practices.
They are NPIP members.
The only reason why they have 4 stars is that they aren’t as clear with their sustainable and humane practices as other farms.
Graywhale offers the following chicken breeds:
There are many on this list that I had never heard of before!
→ Learn more about Graywhale Farms
Shipping available
The Head Family Farm is located in Alabama and raises all of their chickens up to their full weight. They do not kill chicks on their farm.
All of their breeds offer beauty in terms of feather and egg color.
Their website mentions that they value sustainable agriculture but does not go into detail. They are NPIP members.
Head Family Farm offers these chicken breeds:
Shipping available
This heritage-focused chicken farm out of Wisconsin is unique in that it is working toward their Organic Certification. On their website, they note “we have made it our mission to help preserve and improve a variety of endangered heritage breeds on our farm. We care for our land and animals as naturally as possible.”
They are members of many organizations for livestock, including NPIP, Livestock Conservancy, American Poulltry Association, American Buckeye Club, and Ameraucana Breeders Club.
They do not administer vaccinations by default but you can add it on.
Herd It All offers these chicken breeds:
→ Learn more at Herd It All’s website
Shipping available
This sweet farm out of Vermont tends to their chickens attentively and humanely.
All of their hens are fed non-GMO food. Sugar Feather Farm is a part of the NPIP, Livestock Conservancy, and American Poultry Association.
You can order the following breeds:
→ Check out their available chickens here
Shipping available
This Oklahoma farm mentions regenerative growing on their site, but doesn’t go into much detail on what their practices are.
Regardless, they offer rotational grazing for their hens, and strive for ethical practices within their livestock raising.
They specialize in the La Fleche chicken, which is a critically endangered breed.
→ Learn more about Bad Baxter Farm
Shipping available, must order via mail with check
The Sandhill Preservation Center is a fantastic example of honoring all things old-fashioned with strong boundaries. These folks are reknown within the world of seed stewardship and chicken stewardship. But they are not a simple online ordering company. They manage their farm with jobs of their own, and tend to their land with one mission: conservation of at-risk species.
In addition to poultry, they have 2500 vegetable varieties, fruits, flowers, and grains. Some of these are not offered anywhere else, and are at risk of being lost forever.
They select for APA standards and look to build genetic diversity into their flocks. They look to breed long-lived and resilient birds that are allowed to roam on pasture. Birds are raised in a way where their natural instincts are favored, such as broodiness and foraging skills.
They are a no kill farm and only sell straight run chicks.
They do not vaccinate but do annual tests to ensure a disease-free bird, and are NPIP members.
Order in advance, and be sure to read their information page.
Sandhill preserves the following chicken breeds as assortments (it’s a long list!):
→ Check out Sandhill Preservation Center
Don't forget your neighbors and other local farms!
Many families tenderly raise hatching eggs and chicks, and offer them for sale. Local families also sell lovingly raised pullets.
While obviously each small farm will raise their animals differently, you may be able to find something that is a short drive away. This supports the local economy and helps you to build relationships within your community.
A shorter drive also means less stress for the hens and chicks, and a safer mode of transportation for hatching eggs.
I've also found that local homesteaders are very friendly and are keen to share information and tips on how to raise your chicks and hens.
I have a guide here for the best heritage chicken breeds for laying eggs.
While you're thinking about that first carton full of eggs, check out my guide to raising organic eco-friendly hens, or have a look at my fun list of name ideas for your chicken friends.
I also have a guide on what might be causing your chickens to stop laying eggs.
Just getting started with raising chickens? Have a look at my essential chicken supply list to make sure you have everything you need.
