Big Business!!

[Lil Country]

This year I have been trying to start a new flock after not having chickens for 10 years.

I’ve gotten a high number of roosters unfortunately. It’s been a long and stressful process to get a dozen good hens.

I’ve re homed 4 already and I have 3-5 more to go. Spoke with the breeder I got the chicks from. They have a big farm and breed and sell chicks/chickens. Big business for chickens this year!! Bought 9 chicks, only 3 are pullets! I believe he knew he was giving me roosters. At 12 each, that’s not the out come I was hoping for at all and in the end has been very stressful for me. Bought 4 RIR from another breeder all of which were Roosters!

When someone sells straight run, or you buy straight run you have to understand that the percentage of roosters is going to be high. This year even higher percentage, even if you think you’re buying pullets at the farm store.

To those buying chicks, be careful!! It’s big business this year and there are those just selling straight run to make money, knowing they are giving you mostly roosters!

 

[nuthatched]

Don't buy from a "local breeder", especially if they can't get the right chicks to you.

 

[Lil Country]

Don't buy from a "local breeder", especially if they can't get the right chicks to you.

I agree with you ! After not being able to get my hands on chicks at all. I choose to buy local! My mistake! I will never buy straight run ever again!! I’m just concerned about all the new chicken owners and I’m seeing a high number of roosters for re homing in my area. I’m sure it’s everywhere. We see post after post on here about sexing and I believe they are buying straight run! It’s not a good out come!

 

[Noraaaaa]

Don't buy from a "local breeder", especially if they can't get the right chicks to you.

Personally, I think it's fine if you know it is not a scam. I get most of my birds from local breeders, then raise my own. Getting straight run means males and females. If you can't sex them at birth, then it's not your fault. You are taking a risk getting straight run, and you need to know that. It's not always going to be 50/50. And some breeds weirdly decide to have a ratio of 70/30 it seems (silkies are my example here, when I hatch them its always around that ratio). Its not just hatch ratio but its when you grab the chicks to sell, you arent going to always get 50/50 when you grab them, even if they hatch that way.

If you really want sexed females, you need to do a hatchery. The biggest problem with hatcheries is the lack of quality in the birds. They are cheap and sexed, but the birds have some problems. I once got 12 female chicks from a hatchery, and they grew to 3 months, then all but 2 randomly died. It's not just their health; it's how good they look and how they are treated as chicks.

So I honestly am a local breeder person. Better life for chicks, better health, better quality and you know the person (as in you know who the parents are).