My Three Chicks
Crowing
I have a flock of 6 beloved hens. Here where I live, I can have up to 8. So I am wanting to get 2 to add this spring (well I want like 20, but 2 will have to do!).
The dilemma is I don't know where to get them, etc. Please read on.
Option 1: There are a couple of breeds I really want (a Swedish Flower Hen and a Splash Marans or Splash Steele Egger). I have an order of 4 chicks coming from Meyer on May 20. My thought was to keep 2, then sell the other 2 after several weeks when they are ready to move outdoors (2 because then they"ll have a buddy when they go to their new home).
But I'm worried this plan may be flawed because 1) I'll fall in love with them then will be heartbroken to sell them, 2) perhaps they will be hard to sell (I've never tried to sell chickens), 3) maybe it's too much work/trouble to go through if I just want 2.
Option 2: The alternative is to keep things simple and just get 2 sexed chicks from a local breeder. They don't have the breeds I really want. But I got 3 chicks from them last year and am happy with them.
Then I am now wondering if raising just 2 chicks is a good idea. Will it be harder to integrate, what if one dies, etc.
What do you think...which way should I go? I'm probably over-thinking it. Haha. I guess because I'll also be at my max of 8. So these will be the last batch for a long time (my current girls are only 1 to 3 years old and will live out their natural lives with me as pets).
The dilemma is I don't know where to get them, etc. Please read on.
Option 1: There are a couple of breeds I really want (a Swedish Flower Hen and a Splash Marans or Splash Steele Egger). I have an order of 4 chicks coming from Meyer on May 20. My thought was to keep 2, then sell the other 2 after several weeks when they are ready to move outdoors (2 because then they"ll have a buddy when they go to their new home).
But I'm worried this plan may be flawed because 1) I'll fall in love with them then will be heartbroken to sell them, 2) perhaps they will be hard to sell (I've never tried to sell chickens), 3) maybe it's too much work/trouble to go through if I just want 2.
Option 2: The alternative is to keep things simple and just get 2 sexed chicks from a local breeder. They don't have the breeds I really want. But I got 3 chicks from them last year and am happy with them.
Then I am now wondering if raising just 2 chicks is a good idea. Will it be harder to integrate, what if one dies, etc.
What do you think...which way should I go? I'm probably over-thinking it. Haha. I guess because I'll also be at my max of 8. So these will be the last batch for a long time (my current girls are only 1 to 3 years old and will live out their natural lives with me as pets).