There are many considerations to take into account when determining the placement of your chicken coop. Here are 10 tips that can help you find...
Educate Yourself
Huzzah! You're here to learn about raising baby chicks, which is more than some people do! (You'd be...
read more
What kind and how much feed should I give my flock at each stage of development?
As baby chicks and waterfowl grow, their nutritional needs change. It can be confusing to know how much and what kind of feed to give them at each... read more
How will I know which breeds are which on my waterfowl order?
Congratulations! You've received your order of waterfowl from My Pet Chicken and now you want to know which breed is which. No problem! Using the leg... read more
I already placed my order for baby waterfowl. Can I change it?
Yes, in most cases you can call us at 908-795-1007 to have your order changed, but before you do, read on because there are three important things... read more
My chicks are all available on different dates. Will they ship at different times, or all at once?
All at once! All your birds must ship together for their safety. Alternatively, you can choose to place two or more separate orders, but each one... read more
Can I mix and match or do I have to buy all the same breed?
There is no minimum number of chicks per breed or size, although your total order must meet the minimum number for your area, so you can mix and... read more
What is the minimum order for ducklings and goslings?
Since shipping little ones can be so expensive, our minimum order for waterfowl is usually 10. However, if you are ok higher shipping costs, we can... read more
What happens if a duckling or gosling is incorrectly sexed?
It's always disappointing when a bird isn't sexed correctly, especially if your "girl" ended up being a "boy" and was the family's favorite bird!... read more
How can I tame ducks and geese?
As prey animals, ducks and geese are concerned about any potential threat, including you! Since we are large, threatening creatures with... read more
How do I pick up a goose?
In a word--carefully! Geese are very strong animals, and you will want to learn to catch and hold them properly to avoid getting pummeled by their... read more
How many chickens should I get?
We'd like to answer this question, "dozens and hundreds!" because keeping chickens is so wonderful--but for the health and safety of the birds (and... read more
What can I do if my minimum order is too high?
Because of our read more
Can you ship chicks to my location?
We can ship chicks anywhere within the continental U.S. and to some locations in Hawaii and Alaska. Please check "Can you safely ship chicks to... read more
Should I get my birds vaccinated?
Here at My Pet Chicken, we offer a Marek's disease vaccination on all baby chicks. Marek's disease is the #1 disease-related killer of chickens. It... read more
When should I take my pet chicken to the vet?
As keepers of pet chickens, we've all been there. You notice one of your birds exhibiting some unusual behaviors or symptoms, and you're faced with a... read more
How can I track my waterfowl shipment? Do you provide a tracking number?
No worries! We do our best to make sure that you're "in the loop" throughout the process.
Waterfowl are hatched on Mondays, Tuesdays, and... read more
Should I free range my chickens?
If you allow your chickens to range freely, you WILL lose some to predators-- make no mistake. It can be devastating, especially to those of us with... read more
How much space should my chickens have in their run?
The "run" is a fenced or enclosed yard space you give your flock outdoors, where they can forage, sunbathe and generally engage in all the chicken-y... read more
What is a chicken run?
A chicken run is the fenced or enclosed outdoor space you provide for your chickens. The coop is the indoor space---where they go to sleep on their... read more
Do ducks and geese make good pets?
Yes, they do! But it's important to remember that they are not dogs or cats - or even chickens! And that's some of the fun of keeping them--learning... read more
How can I have a successful classroom hatching project?
Hatching eggs at school can be a rewarding and enlightening school project! In fact, the founder of My Pet Chicken was first charmed by chickens... read more
What are mule ducks?
A "mule" duck is a sterile hybrid cross between a Muscovy and a Pekin.Because these two breeds have been genetically isolated for 50 million years,... read more
Do ducks and geese have to have swimming water?
While ducks and geese DO need fresh, clean drinking water, and ideally have ready access to a shallow area with "dipping" water (enough for them to... read more
What is the life expectancy of ducks and geese?
If cared for properly, ducks can live to 7-10 years, and some exceptional birds may live longer than that. Geese normally live 10-15 years, but there... read more
Will ducks attack children?
It is extremely rare for a duck to attack a person. As prey animals, their main defense is to run or fly away. There is a much greater chance... read more
How can I keep ducks out of my swimming pool? Can my ducks and geese drink and swim in chlorinated water?
First--no worries about chlorinated water and your waterfowl flock; it will not harm them. So if your personal pet flock finds your pool, you don't... read more
How do I find a veterinarian for my chicken or duck?
It's always a good idea to seek out an avian or farm veterinarian BEFORE you get chickens, so you'll know where to turn in case of any emergency or... read more
How do I introduce new geese into my flock?
While geese generally get along well with one another, adding a new goose or gander to your gaggle can be a stressful time for them--and for you!--as... read more
How do you ship waterfowl?
We ship all of our waterfowl by USPS Priority Mail.
Our desire is for every duckling and gosling to arrive safely, so we specialize our... read more
Do ducks, geese, and chickens get along with each other?
Yes! Generally speaking, ducks, geese, and chickens (and most other types of fowl) get along really well with one another without too many issues,... read more
How do I tell male and female waterfowl apart?
What exactly do you have--drakes or ducks? Geese or ganders? Great question! The answer may be relatively easy or hard to tell, depending on the age... read more
How can I handle an aggressive goose?
Geese can make great pets, and thankfully, most geese do not exhibit aggressive behavior. Among those that do, it is usually confined to the breeding... read more
Do geese make good pets? Can't they be mean or aggressive?
You may be surprised to find that the answer to both questions is...yes! Geese can make great pets, and yes, they can sometimes be aggressive. Before... read more
What's the right ratio of males to females for ducks and geese?
Duck male-to-female ratios
In flocks, the general recommendation is one drake for every 4-6 ducks. During breeding season, that may be... read more
Which chicken breeds may need extra heat in winter?
Chickens are incredibly adaptable! They are kept all over the world in all kinds of extreme climates. But it's no secret that some breeds are hardier... read more
What is a "heritage" chicken breed?
The definition of "heritage" in relation to chicken breeds is a bit flexible, but when we use the word, we're referring to breeds that have been... read more
Can I keep just one chicken?
Yes - you can keep just one chicken, but the question is, should you? Keeping one chicken may sound like a great idea to us humans, but is it a good... read more
Can I get Coronavirus (COVID-19) from my chickens?
Here's what the CDC says about COVID-19, as of November 2021:
The risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low; the... read more