Any hatcheries sell pullets 4+ weeks old?

[blackacres]

I recently started my flock of 13 with a straight run mix. They’re all now 9/10 weeks old and after rehoming 3, I still have 7 roosters. While I’m finding placement for at least 5 of them, I’m desperate for pullets.
Does anyone know what hatcheries sell birds that are at least 4 weeks old? I’m good with brooding them for a few weeks until they’re size comparable to my current birds, but not looking to start with day olds this late in the season. Help please!

 

[nuthatched]

At this time of year, very few if any and they're $40 plus a piece plus shipping which isn't cheap. Your local Craigslist might be a better place. Rotten luck on that batch.

 

[NatJ]

Does anyone know what hatcheries sell birds that are at least 4 weeks old? I’m good with brooding them for a few weeks until they’re size comparable to my current birds, but not looking to start with day olds this late in the season. Help please!

You could try here:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/started_pullets.html

They are sold out of 4-week-old chicks, but they do have ones 15-22 weeks old.
I'm seeing prices up to $30 each, and then you still have to pay shipping, but they are old enough that the sexing sure ought to be accurate!

The price sounds high, but it would save you the brooding, and all those weeks of feeding them, so you could add up the costs and decide whether it's a good deal for you or not.

(I have no personal experience with ordering started pullets, but I've thought about it a few times.)

 

[blackacres]

At this time of year, very few if any and they're $40 plus a piece plus shipping which isn't cheap. Your local Craigslist might be a better place. Rotten luck on that batch.

Ugh. Definitely not looking to spend that! As a first time chicken owner, this has been a frustrating journey so far.

 

[nuthatched]

Do you have a local radio station, feed store, post office where you could put up a flyer?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

You might be able to find started pullets from a local breeder as well. If you’re looking for specific breeds, you can check the breed clubs and see if there any breeders in your area.

 

[SkiboJeff]

You might be able to find started pullets from a local breeder as well. If you’re looking for specific breeds, you can check the breed clubs and see if there any breeders in your area.

Local breeders are the best bet. I can get 10-12 week pullets for $10.

 

[Island]

Wow! That would be nice! I’m hesitant to buy from places that don’t look well kept and most of the pictures I see local people post seem sketchy. I’m terrified at the thought of bringing in an illness.

Murray McMurray Hatcheries does

 

[blackacres]

I think you will have problems well before spring, probably starting in the next month or two.

Can you divide your pen? That way you could have a section for males and one for females.



Whether you rehome the males or butcher them, you do not have to do it all at once. You can remove one or two that you like least, and leave the others a little longer while you think about them.

Since you want to keep 2 males, are you planning to hatch eggs?
If so, you will need to deal with extra males every time you hatch a batch of chicks. That is either a lot of rehoming, or plenty of practice butchering.

I think you will have problems well before spring, probably starting in the next month or two.

Can you divide your pen? That way you could have a section for males and one for females.

Or you could rehome the extra males.

My personal preference is to eat the extra males, anytime after about 6 weeks old. (Some people eat quail. I like to eat small chickens.)

Whether you rehome the males or butcher them, you do not have to do it all at once. You can remove one or two that you like least, and leave the others a little longer while you think about them.

Since you want to keep 2 males, are you planning to hatch eggs?
If so, you will need to deal with extra males every time you hatch a batch of chicks. That is either a lot of rehoming, or plenty of practice butchering.

I believe I am starting to see issues already. One of the cockerels keeps grabbing pullets by the neck. He’s made no attempts (that I’ve seen) to mount, but I have seen him grab them several times. It’s mostly always the same one.

I can easily divide the run, but I’m not sure how I could divide the coop. I’ll put some thought into that. It would at least buy me a little time to decide if I want to cull all the cockerels or keep any.

My reason for getting chickens was to give me something to do. I work from home and have zero hobbies. I enjoy animals and taking care of things. I currently have no plans to hatch my own eggs. I’m just attached to two of them.

 

[blackacres]

Do you have a local radio station, feed store, post office where you could put up a flyer?

That’s a good idea! I live in a very small county, but we do have a post office board where the community can post things.