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Total newbie with question on aquiring chicks...

post #1 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:19am
Thread Starter 

I am seriously considering starting raising my own chickens. I have one basic question. How to go about getting chicks? I have seen some ads in my area for chicks. The problem is they are all for unsexed chicks. I don't know if getting unsexed chicks is a good idea. What do I do with roos? I don't want to keep any yet. So I just buy a few more chicks then I think I want then cull the roos? If yes, when?

 

Could you help me please? How did you start? What was your biggest mistake with your first chicks?

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post #2 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:32am

Why don't you look into pullets( young birds), or full grown hens?  That way you can be sure to get hens, and you don't have to wait 4-6 months for them to start laying. If you do get unsexed chicks, you can sell or give away the roos, but just be warned that most people will eat them.

Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it. - Anne Shirley

 

 

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Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it. - Anne Shirley

 

 

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post #3 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:35am
Check your local farm/feed/pet store (not petsmart). Ours in town gets their birds from ideal on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I actually want roos, so was disappointed to find they are ONLY ordering in pullets.

http://www.communitywalk.com/pa_bycers/map/1552784

My mixed up flock of Barred Rocks, Red hens, Brown Leghorns, Speckled Sussex,  EEs, BLRW, Buff Orps, Wellies and Delawares Marans and Ameracaunnas, lone Sebright roo  and a Muscovy quad.

 

In quarantine a quintuplet of barred rocks (hopefully hens)

 

In the brooders:  Pekin ducklings, New Hampshire Reds, Buff Orps, Iowa Blue.

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http://www.communitywalk.com/pa_bycers/map/1552784

My mixed up flock of Barred Rocks, Red hens, Brown Leghorns, Speckled Sussex,  EEs, BLRW, Buff Orps, Wellies and Delawares Marans and Ameracaunnas, lone Sebright roo  and a Muscovy quad.

 

In quarantine a quintuplet of barred rocks (hopefully hens)

 

In the brooders:  Pekin ducklings, New Hampshire Reds, Buff Orps, Iowa Blue.

Reply
post #4 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 

I have no problem putting them in my freezer.  We do plan on, eventually, having both meat and egg birds.

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post #5 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:39am

The larger hatcheries, usually places you will have to have chicks shipped from, often have the ability to sell you chicks that have already been sexed. 

 

Kaitie09's suggestion is a great one, especially if you want to just start small, since many times you have to order a minimum of 25 chicks to have them shipped to you from some of the largery hatcheries.

 

 

 

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post #6 of 6
2/23/12 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigertrea View Post

I have no problem putting them in my freezer.  We do plan on, eventually, having both meat and egg birds.



Well then, go ahead and get unsexed chicks from a feed store, and just butcher the roos.

Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it. - Anne Shirley

 

 

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Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it. - Anne Shirley

 

 

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