whiting blues

I just ordered 15 straight run of these. They are suppose to all lay blue eggs. Does anyone have experience with these ?

Here is a photo

I am sorry I do not, though I am sure someone here does, you just fell though the cracks. Go ahead and introduce yourself in the new member page and get a proper welcome.

They are new for McMurray so I am not sure you will find anyone who knows much about them yet.

I am curious why you went with straight run if you want layers?

keesmom said:

They are new for McMurray so I am not sure you will find anyone who knows much about them yet.

I am curious why you went with straight run if you want layers?

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I was reading'Storeys guide to raising poultry'book and they recommended buying Straight run butchering the roosters and of course keeping the pullets for eggs. I do not need 15 laying hens.

Lol I just started a thread with the same question


I'm now researching what breeds went into the mix, as well as trying to schmooze DH into letting me order some pullets

lisaalene said:

I was reading'Storeys guide to raising poultry'book and they recommended buying Straight run butchering the roosters and of course keeping the pullets for eggs. I do not need 15 laying hens.

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I only ask because hatchery straight run often tends to be cockerel heavy. If you don't mind a bunch of chicken dinners then you are fine.

Unless you've butchered and eaten your dual purpose birds in the past, I'd amend that order to pullets only. Those birds aren't even dual purpose, they're light bodied layers and there won't be much meat on a cockerel. They'll also eat a crapton of feed to get that scanty weight. Plus, you have a bunch of randy boys harassing your ladies when they're too young to mate. Just to give you an idea of what carcass you're going to get...





Not trying to discourage you from raising your own meat, just wanting you to know what you're going to wind up with. The first bird is mostly EE/Ameraucana, the second is EE/barred Rock/Leghorn. Second bird is skinned, that's why it looks so different.

When I order from a hatchery and don't want to keep all the chicks I need to order, I raise them to 6 weeks or so (off the heat) and sell them. I have no problem selling pullets at that age, folks like that they don't have to do the brooding.

donrae said:

Unless you've butchered and eaten your dual purpose birds in the past, I'd amend that order to pullets only. Those birds aren't even dual purpose, they're light bodied layers and there won't be much meat on a cockerel. They'll also eat a crapton of feed to get that scanty weight. Plus, you have a bunch of randy boys harassing your ladies when they're too young to mate. Just to give you an idea of what carcass you're going to get... Not trying to discourage you from raising your own meat, just wanting you to know what you're going to wind up with. The first bird is mostly EE/Ameraucana, the second is EE/barred Rock/Leghorn. Second bird is skinned, that's why it looks so different. When I order from a hatchery and don't want to keep all the chicks I need to order, I raise them to 6 weeks or so (off the heat) and sell them. I have no problem selling pullets at that age, folks like that they don't have to do the brooding.

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Excellent point, @donrae! And the pictures are worth 1000 words lol The crop on that top bird is bigger than it's leg! All that effort and feed to dress a bird for maybe one meal is totally not worth it. I actually have 2 breeding roos right now that are a perfect example of that first carcass lol; a Hamburg and a Blue Andalusian. Scanty meat, but I got them for pretty eye candy, not meat My red star, however, on BR hens... Babies big and fat by 10 weeks, totally worth the work of dressing, and they actually feed my family of 4 a meal

Wow thanks for the advice
I'll adjust my order if it's not too late

I change my order, thank the Lord to all pullets.
Thanks for the advice
These whiting blues are leghorn crosses and from what I found so meat is a no go I'll assume!
Thank you all again for saving me from an expensive mistake