should i take a chance on stright run chicks?

guelphchick said:

Thanks for your responses everyone
Still deciding what I want to do. Not sure I could raise the roos for meat birds or not. I think I'll end up looking at them all as pets. Who knows.
Anyhow I'll keep looking to see what I can get I guess, lol. I do have some time.

On another note, based on your experiences...how long can you raise baby chicks indoors in your home? I don't have a garage, so they would have to be in the house until the spring when I get their coop built.

Click to expand...

I would highly recommend not getting chicks until the coop is completely built....
......unless you are a consummate planner and highly skilled builder who can knock it out quickly.
I've read so many stories about folks getting chicks then taking months to get the coop done...and been miserable with chicks in the house in too small a brooder.

True pure breed Ameraucanas are not usually available from a reputable breeder as pullets only....could the same with Barnevelders.
I hatch most my replacement layers, males meet the grill and stock pot at about 14-16 weeks - just before they start to cause trouble.

My friend hatched out eggs as part of the bew years hatch. I called claim to the 3 light tan eggs from the beginning as they could be buff orp,or buff orp/brahma cross. So my 3 hatched and we tried feather sexing them. I'm pretty sure only 1 is a female. I'm still leary if this feather sexing is even right! If it is,i will have one ridiculously spoiled hen,if not,it will be the most heart breaking choice but to try and sell a orp cross in hopes they wont go to a pot,i could otherwise make myself. If tou want just girls,i say just find somewhere where you can know for sure they're sending you girls,and like said before,make sure the coop is done first! You never lnow how long winter will linger,and have a frozen ground! I'm dealing with that myself! I want to get meaties this spring,have my coop done,but need to finish fencing! That'd be alot easier than building that coop with a time limit! Best of luck!

I haven't read all the responses but, I think I recall reading in the past that Barnevelders are an 'auto sex' breed. That you can tell male/female when they hatch. I may be wrong. Also, from my experience with straight run chicks (of lots of chicken breeds) I have found that the pullets will grow tail feathers by 7 days old. Males are slow to develop tail feathers. Hope you found some good info. I Love my Ameraucanas & would love to have some Barnevelders some day.

Phoenix Native said:

I haven't read all the responses but, I think I recall reading in the past that Barnevelders are an 'auto sex' breed. That you can tell male/female when they hatch. I may be wrong. Also, from my experience with straight run chicks I have found that the pullets will grow tail feathers by 7 days old. Males are slow to develop tail feathers. Hope you found some good info. I Love my Ameraucanas & would love to have some Barnevelders some day.

Click to expand...

Maybe you or someone else can correct me if i'm wrong,but isn't that true for most breeds? The females feather quicker,and get their tail feathers sooner? I have buff orp brahma mixes and i'm almost certain by feather sexing,1 of the 3 is a girl. I'll start my own thread for opinions so I don't clog this thread.

JacksFarmNGardn said:

Maybe you or someone else can correct me if i'm wrong,but isn't that true for most breeds? The females feather quicker,and get their tail feathers sooner? I have buff orp brahma mixes and i'm almost certain by feather sexing,1 of the 3 is a girl. I'll start my own thread for opinions so I don't clog this thread.

Click to expand...

Yes, I was referring to most chicken breeds...of all the ones I have experienced this has been true & heard of several other breeds too.

guelphchick said:

Thanks for your responses everyone

On another note, based on your experiences...how long can you raise baby chicks indoors in your home?  I don't have a garage, so they would have to be in the house until the spring when I get their coop built. 

Click to expand...

I've done it twice and three weeks old was about all I could take and that was with a maximum of 4 chicks. After that you are cleaning it constantly to keep the smell away and they got delegated to the laundry and then all the way to the garage. I personally wouldn't want to do it for a couple months.

JacksFarmNGardn said:

Maybe you or someone else can correct me if i'm wrong,but isn't that true for most breeds? The females feather quicker,and get their tail feathers sooner? I have buff orp brahma mixes and i'm almost certain by feather sexing,1 of the 3 is a girl. I'll start my own thread for opinions so I don't clog this thread.

Click to expand...

Yes and no. I had two australorps hatch and one got feathers and tail before the other and the other was slower to feather and get a tail and had a much more masculine stance. Was 100% sure I had one of each but at the end of the day they have turned out to be both girls.

appps said:

Yes and no. I had two australorps hatch and one got feathers and tail before the other and the other was slower to feather and get a tail and had a much more masculine stance. Was 100% sure I had one of each but at the end of the day they have turned out to be both girls.

Click to expand...

Oh wow! Well i sure hope i'm not spoiling a boy! Lol!!!