Great question. Chick prices vary according to availability, quality, and farmer investment.

Chick Availability

Like everything else, the harder it is to come by, the more it will cost. Many of the breeds we hatch are very difficult and pricey ($7-11 per egg, plus shipping) to find hatching eggs for, hence the higher price for the chicks. Particularly so if the hatch rate is poor and I only get 8/12 or fewer to hatch.

Chick Quality, and Quality of Life

Hatchery stock — the feed store chicks — are mass produced in an industrial setting, conveyor belted, and then shipped to the feed stores. The birds usually look very different from the APA Standard of Perfection for each breed and the eggs from which the chicks hatch come from hens that live in an industrial setting. And don’t even google what happens to the unwanted male chicks.

Small farm stock and speciality breeder stock — from whence I source any outside eggs we hatch here — are eggs from chicken enthusiasts' hens. Usually the hens have a better quality of life than an industrial hatchery hen and a proper breeder takes great care to ensure that her or his birds are constantly moving towards the APA Standard of Perfection for each breed. In addition, locally hatched chicks do not have to endure being shipped, which matters a great deal to me.

Farmer Investment

In addition, keep in mind that it takes at least 18 months to establish a productive breeding flock, as I can’t hatch from pullets: females prior to their first molt. If the early rounds do not produce quality breeding hens, I have to bring in more eggs, hatch them, grow them out, etc. One of my flocks has taken three years to go from decision to viable hatching eggs. That is a lot of time and resources invested.

Also, have you priced quality commercial incubators? Again, huge investment.

Thanks for asking.