Where to buy laying hens in the Eastern Townships
You've made the decision: this year, there will be chickens in the yard. The real question remains, the one that makes many coop projects hesitate: where to find healthy, ready-to-lay hens without any nasty surprises?
In the Eastern Townships, there is no shortage of supply. Several retailers sell chickens in the spring, each in their own way. However, the buying experience, availability of breeds, and health guarantees vary greatly from one place to another. Some operate online, others only by phone or in-store, and the difference in both price and quality can be significant. This guide honestly compares your options, from online booking to local pickup and classified ads, so you know exactly where and when to buy your first hens.
The right time to book your chickens in Quebec
In Quebec, ready-to-lay pullets must be reserved; they aren't something you can just improvise. Demand far exceeds supply every spring, and the good breeds sell out early. Organized buyers book as early as winter, often in January or February, for pickups starting in the spring and continuing through the summer. Waiting until May to shop often means discovering that the spots are already filled.
At F.G. Edwards, 2027 pickups are staggered at a rate of two dates per month from April to July, with an additional date in October for those who miss the spring wave or want to refresh their flock in the fall. This spread-out calendar offers flexibility, but the logic remains the same everywhere: deciding early where you are buying and then booking as soon as sales open is half the work. The rest is preparing the coop and choosing the right breed.
First option: the F.G. Edwards Chicken Days
Let's start with the option we know best, and the concrete reason for placing it first: the buying experience. Most retailers in the region take orders by phone, in-store, or via form, without immediate confirmation. The F.G. Edwards Chicken Days function like a true online purchase. You choose your breed, quantity, and pickup location, and your order is confirmed on the spot. No waiting, no uncertainty regarding availability: what you see is what is reserved for you.
This booking system is based on a documented selection of breeds. Each breed has its own detailed profile, including expected annual laying, egg color, temperament, cold hardiness, and ease for beginners, and a selector helps you put together a flock compatible with your situation. For fall pickup, you can find the Lohmann Brown and the Leghorn for $19.50. For the spring and summer of 2027, the selection expands to include heritage and colored-egg breeds: Olive Egger, Azure Blue, Colombian Rock, Noiran, and Plymouth Rock for $29.50, as well as the Silver Sasso for $35.00.
Pickup is done locally at one of our two points in the Townships: West Brome (12 McCurdy Road) or Bedford (1290 Route 235). No long road trips or organizing the transport of live animals over hundreds of kilometers. The birds are vaccinated and examined before pickup and sold at laying age, generally between 17 and 20 weeks depending on the breed, which means the first eggs arrive shortly after they are settled at your place. Each order comes with a bag of Ponte Plus feed, a formula developed locally for the needs of local layers. The hen doesn't just change hands: she leaves well-fed, with what is needed to get off to a good start.
Finally, the support doesn't end with the sale. The teams at both stores answer questions before and after the purchase, from choosing the breed to the first molt. F.G. Edwards has been a rural retailer in the Townships since 1928, and this continuity translates to one simple thing: when you have a question about your chickens, there is someone who knows the answer on the other end of the line or behind the counter.
Other ways to buy chickens in the region
F.G. Edwards is obviously not the only place selling chickens in the area. Here are the other options, with how they work and their limitations. These are good businesses; the difference mainly lies in the ordering method and the amount of information offered online.
Quinn Boutiques (Magog) is a country and animal nutrition store well-established in the Townships. It offers chickens according to the season, with ordering via an online form. Practical and local, but without real-time purchase confirmation: you fill out a request and then wait for a follow-up.
H. Coderre et Fils (Knowlton) is a hardware store and agricultural supplier in Brome-Missisquoi, very close to West Brome. Chickens can be found there according to the season, to be ordered locally. It is a solid local option, without an online booking platform.
Les Moulées Dufferin (Granby) is a feed mill and animal feed store on the edge of the Townships. Poultry is offered there according to availability, with local ordering, which suits someone who is already a customer for feed.
Boutique Bellifrance (Les Moulées Bellifrance) is an animal nutrition retailer with a chicken section. Purchasing is done mainly in-store and by phone, with the nutritional expertise that comes with a feed mill.
Génération Grains Natures (Roxton Falls) is an animal nutrition store that sells layers (red, barred Plymouth Rock, black) directly through its online store. Availability and quantities vary throughout the season.
Clarke et fils offers ready-to-lay pullets, to be ordered by phone or form. Quantities and pickup windows vary, so it is worth acting early.
La Basse-cour de Manonfortin (Saint-Pie) is a small family barnyard that offers several breeds of vaccinated layers, with purchase by phone, email, or on-site. It is a great avenue for small quantities and varied breeds, without an online platform.
Finally, there is Facebook Marketplace and classified ads. On the surface, it is the cheapest and fastest option. In practice, it is also the riskiest. You have no guarantee regarding the bird's health, its actual age, or its laying history, and a hen bought from a stranger can introduce a disease into your yard—a biosecurity risk not to be underestimated. If you choose this route, reserve it for a buyer capable of inspecting a bird, ask precise questions about origin and health status, and beware of prices that are too good to be true.
What to settle before buying
Before booking, handle the regulatory side, because it changes depending on where you live. Several towns in the Townships, including Sherbrooke and Magog, authorize chickens in urban areas, but with conditions: limited number of chickens, roosters almost always prohibited, distances to be respected, and sometimes a permit or registration. These rules vary from one municipality to another, so always confirm yours directly with your town before buying. It's the kind of check that takes ten minutes and avoids a lot of trouble.
Two points are also worth noting. Quebec recommends that poultry owners be registered with their municipality so they can be reached in the event of a disease outbreak. And in the context of avian influenza, birds must be kept in a building or enclosed space at all times: plan for this when designing the coop and enclosure. Note that all of this concerns small backyard flocks; beyond 99 layers, you enter a completely different regime, that of quotas, which does not affect the typical family project.
In terms of logistics, on the day of pickup, provide a clean and ventilated transport box, and have the feed, water, and coop ready at home. A hen that arrives in an already-installed environment adapts faster and starts laying again sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book my laying hens for 2027?
As soon as possible, as supply fills up quickly every spring. At F.G. Edwards, 2027 pickups are staggered at a rate of two dates per month from April to July, with a date in October. The exact dates will be confirmed as the season approaches.
How old are the hens and when will they lay?
Ready-to-lay pullets are generally sold between 17 and 20 weeks old. They begin to lay shortly after their arrival once they have adapted to their new environment, with the delay varying according to breed and conditions.
Do I need a permit to have chickens in my yard in Quebec?
That depends on your municipality. Several towns in the Townships authorize chickens with conditions such as a limited number and the prohibition of roosters. Check your town's bylaw before buying.
Can live chickens be delivered?
No, the birds are to be picked up in person. At F.G. Edwards, pickup is in West Brome or Bedford, with a clean and ventilated transport box that you provide.
Getting your coop off to a good start
Ultimately, buying laying hens in the Eastern Townships comes down to three habits: book early, choose a reliable retailer that guarantees the health and vaccination of its birds, and comply with your municipality's regulations before the flock arrives. Once these foundations are set, the adventure is simpler than it seems.
For what follows, make sure you have the right Ponte Plus feed and the essential coop items, and take the time to read our guide on feeding laying hens in Quebec to properly nourish your chickens from day one. A rural retailer in the Townships since 1928, with two stores, simple online booking, and a team that knows your chickens, F.G. Edwards supports you from the first click to the first egg. When you are ready, book your chickens as soon as the Chicken Days open.
