I order my first chicks, did i ordered too many??

Chicksandme · Oct 11, 2015

I have recently moved to a 10 acre property so I have been getting everything ready to raise my own chickens. I got my husband building me the Chicken Coop that is going to be so big, his calling it the chicken mansion. I'm totally new to the raising chicken and have lots to learn but there is so much to read...

Anyways I finally ordered my chicks today from Papa's Poultry and I think I over ordered. I ordered 8 pack of Orpington Variety chicks, 8 pack of Non-Orpington chicks and 8+ surprise pack of Bantham chicks. That is 24 plus birds I will have and I'm not sure if that is going to be way too many birds to start with?? They said I have 48 hrs to change or cancel my order so any suggestions? I'm not sure if all the chicks will make it so I order thinking I will loose some of them, Any advice before I run out of time to change my order??

BlackBriars · Oct 11, 2015

I ordered 30. They shipped 31. I didn't lose any chicks even though I expected to.

I see my chickens out around the property and I think to myself, I wouldn't want any less because you get different groups doing different things and I really enjoy them.

Your order seems fine to me. Enjoy them!

Folly's place · Oct 11, 2015

You will have fun figuring out the breed types, and as long as you have enough coop and run space (THINK BIG!) it will be fine. You will be getting cockrels, and will only be able to keep only one to three very nice ones, so have a plan for the extras. Have your brooder all set up the day before they arrive, and contact your post office so they will call you AT ANY HOUR when the chicks arrive there. There is no such thing as too predator proof! Mary

Folly's place · Oct 11, 2015

Have them vaccinated for Marek's disease if possible at the hatchery. Are they local to where you live? Looks expensive?! Mary

Blooie · Oct 11, 2015

I'm intrigued by the 8 pack of "non-Orpington" chicks....never heard that description before.

You'll probably be just fine - and you are so lucky to have so much space to start with! I foolishly kept 24 chicks in a box in my husband's office for 5/5 weeks the first time I ordered, and we hadn't even decided where to put a coop and run yet! Got them in February, evicted them on April 1st before the coop was even finished. So you are already proving to be wayyy smarter than me!

Post some pics when those babies arrive, and also of your coop as it progresses. And welcome to BYC!

N F C · Oct 11, 2015

You certainly have enough acreage for them so if you build your coop big enough, you should be fine. It's not uncommon to lose a chick or two at first but not always. If you ordered straight run chicks, you will get some cockerels (that can happen even if you order females only). If you want fertile eggs, figure on only needing one male to about 10 females.

I'd love to see a picture of them when they arrive. You're going to have some fun!

Chicksandme · Oct 16, 2015

Ok everyone, my chicks arrived yesterday and I ended up changing my order so I didn't have as many to 15 chicks. When my husband picked them up at the USPS and we open the box, we had 26 chicks, lol! I know they are to young too multiply that soon, Lol! It looks like Papa's Poultry threw in a lot of extras because they didn't have the ones I wanted but it's ok, what is another 11 chicks, lol!

I'm telling you I'm new to this so I'm a little over whelmed and it is hard to figure out what is the breed let alone figuring out if a female or male, lol! :confused:

Blooie, I made the Mama's heating pad for my crew, it took awhile but they are now enjoying it.

Folly's place · Oct 16, 2015

They are cute!!! Call the hatchery, and try to find out what they sent, and look up what breeds they offer, so you can sort out what you have. Extra 'packing peanuts' are usually males, so be prepared, unless they tell you something else. Enjoy! Mary

Folly's place · Oct 16, 2015

If tey don't vent sex the chicks, maybe they are all straight run.. That would be really nice. Mary

Blooie · Oct 16, 2015

They look great, and I'm jealous of your setup! I'm so glad you are giving MHP a try....chicks seem so much happier when they are able to control their own comfort! Now you know you need to post them over on the Mama Heating Pad thread, right? It's a Blooie Rulie!

I order my first chicks, did i ordered too many??

More options

Chicksandme

Songster

BlackBriars

Songster

Folly's place

Addict

Folly's place

Addict

Blooie

Team Spina Bifida

N F C

Moderator

Chicksandme

Songster

Folly's place

Addict

Folly's place

Addict

Blooie

Team Spina Bifida

Similar threads

New posts New threads Active threads

Latest posts

Latest threads

Threads with more replies in the last 15 days