Appropriate age to sell peachicks

[Midnightman14]

Personally I don't sell them until they are at least 3 months old - could be just me but it seems that they are stronger at this age.

I tried that the first year that I tried to breed as many as I could. I had alot of trouble selling them and the feed/space demands made it a hassle to raise them up to that age. Most people didn't want to buy juveniles despite it being the smarter move. Now I just sell my IB and IBBS chicks at 2-3 weeks locally to save on space and maximize profit. The color mutation birds are kept until they can be reliably sexed. I wish people would want to wait until they were older and stronger but many people who are getting into peas treat them like they would buying chickens.

 

[old biddy]

I tried that the first year that I tried to breed as many as I could. I had alot of trouble selling them and the feed/space demands made it a hassle to raise them up to that age. Most people didn't want to buy juveniles despite it being the smarter move. Now I just sell my IB and IBBS chicks at 2-3 weeks locally to save on space and maximize profit. The color mutation birds are kept until they can be reliably sexed. I wish people would want to wait until they were older and stronger but many people who are getting into peas treat them like they would buying chickens.

When you sell them at 2-3 weeks, have you already wormed them or do you leave that to the buyer?

 

[Midnightman14]

When you sell them at 2-3 weeks, have you already wormed them or do you leave that to the buyer?

I leave it to the buyer but worming in my case shouldn't be necessary just yet as they have never been on the ground.

 

[old biddy]

I leave it to the buyer but worming in my case shouldn't be necessary just yet as they have never been on the ground.

Sooo...I assume the key here is to keep them off the dirt. If I have a broody chicken hen hatch out some peachicks, and I cover the dirt in the coop with clean builders sand, does that decrease chances of chicks acquiring coccidiosis? I know it isn't foolproof, especially since (I assume) the chicken hen (who is also a culprit) will scratch and dig til it gets under the sand into the dirt more readily that a peafowl will...but it should be helpful to put down the layers of sand...right? Or not?

 

[Midnightman14]

Sooo...I assume the key here is to keep them off the dirt. If I have a broody chicken hen hatch out some peachicks, and I cover the dirt in the coop with clean builders sand, does that decrease chances of chicks acquiring coccidiosis? I know it isn't foolproof, especially since (I assume) the chicken hen (who is also a culprit) will scratch and dig til it gets under the sand into the dirt more readily that a peafowl will...but it should be helpful to put down the layers of sand...right? Or not?

Yes the idea is to keep them off of the dirt to avoid cocci and parasites. Putting down sand doesn't hurt.

 

[SimoneG]

I am already feeling nervous about shipping...would hate for one of my birds to die as a result. When you ship a bird(s) do you followup with the purchaser throughout the shipping process? Or assume all is well unless you hear from them?

So far the ones that I've had shipped to me I track and the shipper track and we were in constant contact for the 2 days that they were enroute. (plus now we talk all the time I love new bird friends) they sent pics of them before they shipped and I sent pics & updates when they arrived & for the first couple days after.

 

[KsKingBee]

I am already feeling nervous about shipping...would hate for one of my birds to die as a result. When you ship a bird(s) do you followup with the purchaser throughout the shipping process? Or assume all is well unless you hear from them?

The process is pretty fast but the tracking is a joke. I send a pic of the postage label with the tracking number on it from the PO. It takes one or two days for delivery and most people are considerate enough to PM back and tell us they are there and fine. Some people that have not shipped in a bird before are very anxious, I was the first few time I shipped but I have only had one bad experience so far and that was on the breeder sending a wormy bird that died in transit. As long as the bird is in good condition, prepared for shipping correctly, and not too many birds in one box there will be no problems.

 

[KsKingBee]

Sooo...I assume the key here is to keep them off the dirt. If I have a broody chicken hen hatch out some peachicks, and I cover the dirt in the coop with clean builders sand, does that decrease chances of chicks acquiring coccidiosis? I know it isn't foolproof, especially since (I assume) the chicken hen (who is also a culprit) will scratch and dig til it gets under the sand into the dirt more readily that a peafowl will...but it should be helpful to put down the layers of sand...right? Or not?

Chicks kept off the dirt and on wire will not guarantee them from getting cocci or worms. Cocci can be carried in the wind, on your clothing, on your hands, and even tracked from pen to pen on your shoes. It has even been known to be in the feed you buy. I have had many broody raised chicks that have thrived by having early and constant exposure on the ground and building resistance from day one. Although, you should keep a close eye on them just in case their system gets overloaded and need medicating.

 

[old biddy]

Chicks kept off the dirt and on wire will not guarantee them from getting cocci or worms. Cocci can be carried in the wind, on your clothing, on your hands, and even tracked from pen to pen on your shoes. It has even been known to be in the feed you buy. I have had many broody raised chicks that have thrived by having early and constant exposure on the ground and building resistance from day one. Although, you should keep a close eye on them just in case their system gets overloaded and need medicating.

What do you do if one of the peachicks you ship dies in transit? Do you replace the chick for the buyer? Or is it just the buyer's loss? Do you have a disclaimer that protects you from liability? Is that agreed to before shipping?

 

[Midnightman14]

What do you do if one of the peachicks you ship dies in transit? Do you replace the chick for the buyer? Or is it just the buyer's loss? Do you have a disclaimer that protects you from liability? Is that agreed to before shipping?

It's up to the individual breeder but in my experience most breeders will not ship or sell birds that look "off" and given how many times birds under 12 weeks aren't as hardy most breeders who do ship usually don't do so if they're younger than that. I personally do not guarantee anything whether sold locally or shipped. I just try to only sell birds that are already in good health.