Arizona Chickens

[Lyongirl]

Where do you guys get your chicks from? I was thinking of buying some from a feed store near me but I'm not sure how reputable they are with their sexing...plus they only have 3 different kinds right now and there are a bunch of different breeds I'm considering.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Rufus - when the 60 flooded a few years ago my car was the last car to make it thru that mess. I was really hoping my car didn't get stuck. It was brand new. Thankfully it didnt and even the surface streets were horribly flooded. We learned the high ground thru Tempe was along the light rail system.

Today my broody got chicks...after she broke all of her eggs. *sighs* I gave her 3 silkie chicks and I'm considering slipping a 4th under her tonight. She's done so well with them. After I put them under her one hopped out and she pushed it back under her. I guess I'm not surprised, when my big coop was open on the inside 3 week old chicks were trying to nestle under the Silkies and they never had a problem. Its neat to see her with babies!

Quote:
Feed barns don't sex chicks. Hatcheries do, unless they were purchased as straight run which is about a mix 50/50 male and female. Hatcheries cannot even promise gender 100%. They promise accuracy to 90-95%. I've gotten several roosters that were supposed to be females. Feather/Wing sexing is not very reliable. I've watched others sex a chick, and after researching and seeing photos of day old chicks genitals, what was being veiwed was clearly not chick genitals.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Mahonri, sounds like time for a vacation. You definately aren't having fun. Sorry about the hens, phone, car. How is the niece's car?

ca, I heard DD was the cheapest, Dale's is the one on Waddell west of Litchfield. Scratch there is usually $8.50 and lay feed is usually $11.49

I've bought several roosters that were supposed to be hens, from feed stores and hatcheries. They are right most of the time, but like NoSkiveez said, they only claim to be 90% accurate.

S*T*A*R and ca

 

[AZKat]

Lyongirl: Most of the feed stores around here order chicks from hatcheries, and there are also various people who sell chicks from time to time, including a lady in Gilbert who breeds sex-links. Or you can mail order chicks from a hatchery. Sexing is 90-95% accurate from a hatchery, which is pretty good odds. Otherwise, you can always buy pullets who are old enough to be sure of the sex. For that check craigslist or post on this forum. A number of people (me included) sell pullets from time to time.

 

[Lyongirl]

The feed store out by me (on Power and Williamsfield) def. had sexed chickens. They had one coop for straight run and then a couple of just hens. If it turns out one of those chicks turns into a rooster, there's no way I could keep it here because of the neighbors (Our HOA says backyard animals are fine as long as they "don't disturb the neighors" and I'm sure a rooster would) so what would I do then? I know roosters aren't really easy to get rid of..

 

[DM]

I just ordered chicks and asked for hens but figured I'd get a rooster in the group and I do want one. If it happens I do not get one and you end up with a Delaware or Buff Orphington rooster I'd like to see it.

 

[rufus]

My internet service keeps going down. Sometimes it looks like I am signed on for hours at a time. The Cox service was like a yo yo. Now the new service is starting to do the same thing. Everyone blames sunspot activity.

I guess that is life.

Rufus

 

[Mahonri]

Bob,

So sorry I missed you.

I just couldn't seem to get away from the office today.

I wish I'd have been there, you might have got a couple extras... a pullet and another roo.

Hope all of those eggs hatch for you Bob.
_____________________________________________________________________________

I'm selling two pullets tomorrow.

Then I'll be putting 4 pullets on CL for sale, all 12 weeks old; 2 RIR and 2 EEs at $15 each.

I don't know if I'm going to put in the effort of a winter lawn this year or not. It sure looks nice, but it's a lot of work... but we feed the clippings to the chickens and it makes for great eggs.

I was busier this week at the office than I have been since March. I sure hope things are turning around. Next week is completely booked so I'm happy about that. ... I may even have to open up Friday morning... but I hope not.

If someone wants to take on a project, I just don't have the time. I have an almost 6mo old Wheaten Ameraucana pullet that has an infection in one of it's eyes. I've tried putting neosporin on it, given it antibiotics and it just doesn't seem to want to heal. If no one here wants to try and heal it, I'll probably just cull it. I hate to though... today it jumped up in my lap and fell asleep. It's just got a wicked ugly/stinky infected right eye.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Feed barns don't sex chicks. Hatcheries do, unless they were purchased as straight run which is about a mix 50/50 male and female. Hatcheries cannot even promise gender 100%. They promise accuracy to 90-95%. I've gotten several roosters that were supposed to be females. Feather/Wing sexing is not very reliable. I've watched others sex a chick, and after researching and seeing photos of day old chicks genitals, what was being veiwed was clearly not chick genitals.

Straight Runs probably start out at 50/50, but the older they get, and or if a breed or variety (such as barred) where the appearance diifference shows at hatching, experienced people will usually select the pullets, leaving more and more cockerels, so once an order is half sold, the ration may well be 2 males for every female.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Gift it to your neighbor's kid