Hi there! First post, and I'm as green as they get, so I'm praying you can advise.
I've been doing my research...ok, I've been almost obsessively researching, but one thing I can't figure out is how to get the variety in my flock that I'm looking for and to get around the minimum order quantities of the commercial hatcheries which have the variety that I am looking for.
Basically, I'd like a few silkies, a few Buff Orpingtons, and a few Americaunas/EEs for a max of 8. However, most commercial hatcheries require a minimum of 25. So the way I figure it, I can
A) hope to find some Chicagoland folks with some extra chicks of each breed (Not at all easy, given that there are very few municipalities that allow chicken keeping), or
B) order a $25 minimum from Ideal, which seems to have a questionable reputation (from what I've read)', or
C) order a crap ton of birds and hope that I can manage....in which case i'll have a husband who won't speak to me!
Maybe it's a pipe dream to expect to have such variety in such a small flock, and if so, call me out on that.
Any other ideas? I appreciate all the advice I can get.
Thanks!
I've been doing my research...ok, I've been almost obsessively researching, but one thing I can't figure out is how to get the variety in my flock that I'm looking for and to get around the minimum order quantities of the commercial hatcheries which have the variety that I am looking for.
Basically, I'd like a few silkies, a few Buff Orpingtons, and a few Americaunas/EEs for a max of 8. However, most commercial hatcheries require a minimum of 25. So the way I figure it, I can
A) hope to find some Chicagoland folks with some extra chicks of each breed (Not at all easy, given that there are very few municipalities that allow chicken keeping), or
B) order a $25 minimum from Ideal, which seems to have a questionable reputation (from what I've read)', or
C) order a crap ton of birds and hope that I can manage....in which case i'll have a husband who won't speak to me!
Maybe it's a pipe dream to expect to have such variety in such a small flock, and if so, call me out on that.
Any other ideas? I appreciate all the advice I can get.
Thanks!