OK, I'm using all my self control not to start purchasing chicks and eggs of the breeds I *need* to finish my flock. Did anyone else get this antsy once they decided to get chickens?
I made my list and I know just what I want. Two of them I definitely have, because I bought them as pullets. Then I have two more types at st run, 3 of each, and hopefully there's at least one hen of each, so then I'll have four of my types scratched off the list. Then, I bought hatching eggs for the remaining four types, and it's not looking good on those. They're set to hatch around August 4-7, but I'm all antsy to just buy chicks of those types, because I don't believe I'm going to get a good hatch rate and I'll have to buy them anyhow and I want to know my flock is coming along RIGHT NOW. I also have learned more about getting quality hens, not just hatchery quality, and now I want to make the plunge and buy quality breeding stock of those remaining types. I have some friends that have agreed to take the extras I hatched out, and now I'm thinking of just giving them whatever hatches and getting the breeding quality for myself, like I want. Problem is, those darn shipping minimums! What will I do with 15 of FOUR types?!?!? i don't have anywhere near that kind of room.
How'd you all go about building your flock, with quality stock, without ending up with 50 chicks at once? I don't want to breed and sell, or even show (well, maybe at some point), but I do want beautiful birds
I made my list and I know just what I want. Two of them I definitely have, because I bought them as pullets. Then I have two more types at st run, 3 of each, and hopefully there's at least one hen of each, so then I'll have four of my types scratched off the list. Then, I bought hatching eggs for the remaining four types, and it's not looking good on those. They're set to hatch around August 4-7, but I'm all antsy to just buy chicks of those types, because I don't believe I'm going to get a good hatch rate and I'll have to buy them anyhow and I want to know my flock is coming along RIGHT NOW. I also have learned more about getting quality hens, not just hatchery quality, and now I want to make the plunge and buy quality breeding stock of those remaining types. I have some friends that have agreed to take the extras I hatched out, and now I'm thinking of just giving them whatever hatches and getting the breeding quality for myself, like I want. Problem is, those darn shipping minimums! What will I do with 15 of FOUR types?!?!? i don't have anywhere near that kind of room.
How'd you all go about building your flock, with quality stock, without ending up with 50 chicks at once? I don't want to breed and sell, or even show (well, maybe at some point), but I do want beautiful birds