? ABOUT FIRST MAIL ORDER FOR A NEW CHICKEN OWNER

[TATERsmom]

I am new to the chicken world.

This will be my first order so I was hoping to run this by the "

BYC Experts" before sending it off.

If you have any advice,please dont hesitate to tell me.

Here is what I am ordering from Ideal Hatchery. My main concern is that thay all get along.

>Black Frizzle--------------------------------1 St Run
>Red Frizzle----------------------------------1 St Run
>White Frizzle-------------------------------1 St Run
>Milli Fleur d Uccle Bantam----------------2 St Run
>Cream light-brown Dutch----------------2 St Run
>Black Tail White Japanese Bantam-----2 St Run
>Lemon Blue Old English------------------2 St Run
>Quail Belgian Anver Bantam------------2 St Run
>Buff Silkie Bantam------------------------1 St Run
>Silver Laced Wyandotte Bantam-------1 St Run
>Black Australorp---------------------------1Pullet/1Male
>Golden Lace-------------------------------1Pullet/1Male
>Black Breasted Red Cabalaya----------1Pullet/1Male
>Black Breasted White Polish------------1 St Run
>White Breasted Black Polish------------1 St Run
>Standard Sultan--------------------------1 St Run
>Brown Sex Link---------------------------1Pullet/1Male
>Ameraucanas------------------------------1Pullet/1Male
>Production Black--------------------------1Pullet/1Male
TOTAL------------------------------30 Chicks
If I have everything straight, I think the mailing date is Feb.18,2009.

 

[azelgin]

The problem you might have is endinbg up with a whole bunch of roosters. Even when you order all pullets, you still get roosters thrown in. Accident?. Maybe. I would narrow down the varities and ask for pullets. Any packing peanuts they send will be males. If you don't care if the single order breeds you end up with are roosters, go for it.
JMHO

 

[JennsPeeps]

They'll definitely all get along if they're raised together (squabbles are to be expected, though).

Agree about the likelihood of lots of roos. I'd order only pullets and expect to wind up with a couple of roos between sexing mistakes and packing peanuts (males added for warmth).

 

[PortageGirl]

Yeah... you're going to have a LOT of roosters. That's the big danger of them NOT getting along.

Hens will work things out, though some may be rather docile and be lowest in the 'pecking order', that's not the end of the world in a hen's life.

It's well worth the extra cents to get pullets on all, but the breeds you definately want to keep a roo for breeding. As the others said, you might wind up with a roo or two even when ordering only pullets. With 6 being ordered as roos anyway, and assuming they get the others sexed perfectly, that's still a high ratio of roos to hens.... lots of stress between the males, and on the hens cause the boys will be trying to 'prove' themselves upon the girls.

Other than the male to female ratio, it looks like a lovely combination of different breeds. What FUN!!

 

[congdon476]

It's gonna look like a box of mixed candy!

I would agree with the others- pullet orders are a safer bet than st. runs. The only reason you would want a straight run is if you want 50/50 pullets/roos or they don't offer a "pullet" only choice. Too many roos spoils the coop.

Plus- you always hope for a healthy and speedy delivery- but sometimes that doesn't happen and you loose a few. If you are only ordering 1 of a kind, then you risk not having any if the one doesn't make it.

Might be better for your first order to pick 3-5 breeds you really like and then order 5 of each of those in pullets, plus 1 roo. Then your chances of having a fuller flock are better.

OR you can order less than 30 and start making a 'bator and then get egg-cellent quality eggs from people here at BYC and grow your own flock!

 

[patandchickens]

Yeap, if you're ordering all of those "1-of-each-color-and-breed" things for variety, be prepared to have to get rid of like half or three quarters of them if you order straight run. It might not be quite that bad but you know how murphy's law goes

Have fun,

Pat

 

[TXmom]

One more thing to consider is the shipping charge...Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Ideal charges $1 for each different breed you get when ordering less than a box (100 chicks). I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but it's something like that...$1/breed...you might be looking at almost $20 in EXTRA shipping charges.

ETA: I found the shipping info on Ideal's site: BOXING CHARGE: Add $1.00 service charge for each variety or sex of less than one-fourth box.

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
I TOTALLY AGREE! Either order females (so you can actually have eggs eventually) Get them straight run, but in a larger quantity, like 4 Frizzles instead of just one baby.

You really would benefit more from having A LOT of females than A LOT of males. Males aren't any benefit unless you want to breed your birds- they just eat a lot of food and give little in return!!

This is my educated opinion... Great selections though

Just think "girlie"
Hugs
Christina

 

[kybukabu]

Dear Sweet TatersMom - You are SO gonna end up with 24 roosters! And what's worse, only 6 hens who'll be too anxious and exhausted to lay, the poor babies. (Just think how YOU'D feel if you had 4 husbands who stood around, crowed, and fought all day.)

Still, the most infuriating thing about 24 roosters is that you won't know they're roosters until they're too tough to fry up! (ACK! Two years ago, that kind of comment was heartless and cruel, but now it's just funny because that was five roosters ago, too.)

Listen to everyone who's posted here - if you order all girls, you'll still get roosters, honest. If I were you, I might consider a Silkie Roo if you're intent on ordering a roo. My favorite was a Silkie and he was fantastic for a long time - until the dang Mallard Drake taught him how to be a man. I'd strangle that dang duck if I could catch him, except he's just too cute!

Good luck! And Welcome to the Addiction! XOXO, Ky

 

[TXmom]

I think the reason for all those St Runs is because that's how Ideal sells them. You can't order Silkie Pullets, Frizzle Pullets or Bantam Pullets.

The only solution is the same as reducing the extra shipping charges that I mentioned above....choose fewer breeds that you like and order more than 1 of each.

Of course, if you don't mind the extra charges, and you don't mind a lot of roosters (and you have a way to separate them from each other), then your order is fine