An excuse to talk chicken with yaw'll . . . flock plans

[3KillerBs]

Had time to read a couple more pages.

Along those lines, I was wondering would they do that to somebody. Make MOST of the order roos???? They know don't nobody want a buncha roos. Some are cool; but not 7/10. Geeesh. I could see even half; but not most. Really??? Speak to me.

Straight run is "as hatched" -- unsexed birds.

My first batch of chicks hatched 7 and only got 2 females. If you ordered a couple hundred birds you should be able to expect 50% male and 50% female, but in small batches random chance can tip one way or another.

It's also actually very common to receive a mail or two when you order nothing but females.

This!

Vent sexing is never more than about 90% accurate so for every 10 pullets you order you should expect 1 male.

I haven't done it, but I have heard of people who would make a large order of the super cheap "fry pan special" random assorted males and count on getting some mis-sexed females for their layer flock as well as the males for the freezer.

 

[3KillerBs]

2 more pages.

Ideal Poultry is also a good source for chicks next time. They are out of Texas so their birds should be acclimated to the heat, like you have where you are. Lol. They don’t have a minimum number of birds but $30 minimum order which is usually 6-7 birds if you don’t get any on weekly overhatch special. Most run between $4-$5 per chick. I got an order of 10 from them this year, and they let you get just one of each of a number of breeds which is awesome for variety!

Ideal is my favorite hatchery. Partly because of their low minimums, partly because they're in Texas so my chicks come from flocks that are automatically selected for heat tolerance.

Also @Hip Hillbilly Farm , when you go to expand your flock again, take a look at Australorps since you mentioned the FBCMs. They're heat tolerant, dual-purpose mixes with a good mix of genetics if you look at what they originally came from (Orpington, RIR, etc.). Also have that iridescent black feather + copper neck feather look, just less defined than BCMs.

I absolutely LOVE Australorps. Heat-tolerant, good layers, early maturity, and calm dispositions.

But they are not mixes -- except maybe way back in their history, possibly. They were selected from Black Orpingtons for egg-laying ability and tolerance to Australian conditions. They're a well-established breed.

And they don't have any copper on their necks. Pure, iridescent BLACK (or, in the case of my flock, solid blue with varying degrees of lacing.

Slow, rural internet and I have to leave for work or I'd post a couple photos.

 

[Kiki]

I buy my birds only from @idealpoultry
I have some of their Australorps too.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Slow, rural internet and I have to leave for work or I'd post a couple photos.

Please do when/if you can. And, thank you SO much for your post.

 

[3KillerBs]

Rameses at 5(?) months and one of his hatchmates, Dark Beauty, then a POL pullet.

Nighttime roost photos aren't the best but the solid blue birds are all Australorps:

Broody girl!

16-week cockerel, the classic black color,

I have some better photos on my phone, but right now with my internet situation I could only link photos I've previously uploaded.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Rameses at 5(?) months and one of his hatchmates, Dark Beauty, then a POL pullet.

Nighttime roost photos aren't the best but the solid blue birds are all Australorps:

Broody girl!

16-week cockerel, the classic black color,

I have some better photos on my phone, but right now with my internet situation I could only link photos I've previously uploaded.

what a beautiful family! Thanks for this share.

 

[3KillerBs]

what a beautiful family! Thanks for this share.

I didn't mean to get them.

When I went to the farm store to choose the first chickens for this property I *meant* to get Delawares.

But the Delawares didn't come in from the hatchery so I had to pick some birds from what they had and they had the Blue Australorps.

I fell in love with them.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I didn't mean to get them.

When I went to the farm store to choose the first chickens for this property I *meant* to get Delawares.

But the Delawares didn't come in from the hatchery so I had to pick some birds from what they had and they had the Blue Australorps.

I fell in love with them.

I think I'd like looking at the black ones.

 

[3KillerBs]

I think I'd like looking at the black ones.

Something about an Australorp just fits my mental image of the word "chicken".

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Have you decided yet? Ordered yet? My new addition was shipped today! I’m so excited!