Missoula is a great place to have chickens. Let this information help you make decisions and get informed.
Go to How to get a Hen Permit
Go to Where to Buy Chicks
Go to Where to Buy Feed and other Supplies
Go to Feed Storage Suggestions
Go to Laying Breed Suggestions
Go to Other Breed Suggestions
Go to How to Avoid Roosters
Go to Once you have a Rooster...
Go to Missoula Helpful Links
The Treasurer's office in City Hall, which is downtown across from the County Courthouse, issues permits. Animal Control collects the new permits from the Treasurer's Office every Friday. The permits are $15 per year. It is a quick and easy process.
Missoula has two local businesses that sell young chicks on a seasonal basis. These are; Cenex on North Reserve, and Quality Supply on West Broadway. Both of these businesses sell very young chicks (3 - 5 days old) in a variety of breeds. Chicks are sold in early spring through summertime, and the breeds being stocked at any given time are subject to change. Most chicks cost between $1 and $3 each, so this is an economical and easy option.
You can also buy chicks mail-order. Mail order usually has a 25 chick minimum order, and sometimes chicks can perish en-route. It is best to partner with a friend or two that are experienced with mail ordering chicks to make sure you work with a reputable company, and to make that 25 chick minimum order work with the six hen limit in Missoula. The primary advantage to mail order is that you can get some very rare breeds. However, by calling up Cenex or Quality and talking to their employees, you may be able to find the chick breeds you want without having to go through the more expensive and possibly less humane process of mail ordering the chicks.
Chicken feed comes in two basic forms, chick (also called "starter") and layer (for adult hens). In Missoula you can find both these forms of feed in standard (also called conventional) and organic. You can buy standard feed at Cenex on North Reserve, and Quality Supply on West Broadway.
If you would like organic feed, the Missoula Community Co-op can order pre-mixed organic feed in 50lb bags. They also sell an organic seed and grain mix from their bulk department. You have to be a member, and to get the pre-mixed bagged feed you'll have to place an order once a month, but the pricing is really fair and the food is certified organic. If you are not familiar with the Co-op (it is fairly new, on the Westside near the tracks), visit their website at http://www.missoulacommunitymarket.org/.
Lastly, you can get supplies like feeders, waterers, straw, bedding, calcium and grit at Cenex or Quality, or if you want something really special you can order it online at any number of websites.
Missoula's wildlife does not need to eat chicken feed. Keeping your chicken enclosure tidy and using an enclosed, hanging metal chicken feeder will prevent most problems with smaller animals (i.e. squirrels, mice). These feeders are inexpensive, convenient, and available at Quality Supply and Cenex. Larger animals (most importantly bears) will be attracted to both the hanging metal feeder and the larger bags of feed. Always keep larger quantities of feed locked securely as you would your garbage or dog food. If you live near the city and wildlands interface, it is wise to take even your hanging metal chicken feeder inside at night during the fall bear season to prevent potential bear-chicken-people interactions. Be proactive- a fed bear is a dead bear!
Missoula's cold winters are not a problem to the larger, winter-hardy breeds of chickens. This is a quick list of common, attractive laying breeds that won't need any heat to survive and thrive in the snow and cold, if they live in a well built henhouse and are provided with ample food.
Barred Rocks
Black Australorps
Buff Orpingtons
Gold, Red, or Black Sex Links
Rhode Island Reds, and New Hampshire Reds
Silver or Gold Laced Wyandottes
You don't have to buy laying hens if egg quantity is not crucial to you. Other breeds can do very well in Missoula, although the smaller, lighter birds might need a warming lamp in the coldest months. Here are some other options;
Americaunas/Easter Eggers
Any of the "Cochins"
Bantams (very small chickens, will likely need a heat lamp)
It is crucial that you think through the rooster problem. There are a number of options available to the chicken buyer, depending on what you are comfortable with.
You can buy guaranteed female chicks (called sex-link breeds) for a 100% chance of getting all hens. This is a great option if you have children that might get really upset with "getting rid" of Mr. Feathers, or if you worry about getting attached to a rooster yourself. These chicks are inexpensive and make good backyard birds. They are not heritage breeds, but they are usually very attractive and friendly birds.
Buying "sexed" chicks means that the chick breeder has quickly inspected the genitals of the regular bred chick and deemed it either male or female. This process is right 9 of 10 times, so when you buy six sexed chicks you have about a 50/50 chance of accidentally being sold a male chick, and if you are really unlucky you could end up with a few males. You'll find out if these mistaken chicks ended up in your flock when your chicks are five to ten weeks old. Then, you'll have to make some tough choices.
You can purchase young hens (usually called pullets) at around 15 weeks old. These birds are a lot more expensive and may not be friendly. This option is less preferable but will absolutely guarantee that you end up with the number of egg layers that you want, and you get to skip the labor-intensive chick raising stage..
Buying "straight run" chicks is the least preferable option by far, but it has some utility. These chicks are not sexed, so on average half are male and half are female. Two reasons this might be a good idea for you is if you are planning on eating half of your birds anyway, and/or you are intent on a very special breed that cannot be pre-sexed. Remember- if you do this, you might very well get all roosters! And you won't find out for five to ten weeks.
Once you realize you have a rooster, you must eliminate it from the flock. This is not difficult, but you should think it through. It is unacceptable to not treat a rooster with the dignity it deserves as both a living creature and your former pet- this animal is your responsibility! Under no circumstances it is permissible to release your rooster into the city or onto open lands. Being responsible is not hard- here are some simple, ethical suggestions.
Kill it (humanely) and eat it.
Give it to a reliable friend who would like to kill it and eat it, if you have become too attached to do that yourself.
Give it to someone you trust who lives outside of the city, preferably on a farm (of course).
Post it in the "To Give Away" section of the newspaper.
If it is a special breed, you might be able to sell it in the Classifieds.
Join the Missoula Freecycle emailing list and give it away via email.
The whole darn Chicken Ordinance
Missoula Animal Control: http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/animcontrol/
Missoula City Hall (for permits): http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us
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