BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Turk Raphael]

I kept mine in a pen but I've read they will forage and supposedly it helps keep them healthy. I don't have much to forage on and a lot of predators so I kept mine penned. I ordered mine from Murray McMurray and was very happy with them. The local feed store here carries them too but I was so happy with MM that I ordered from them again.

I made the MM mistake once...never, I say NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!

 

[ejcrist]

I made the MM mistake once...never, I say NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!

What, I say WHAT HAPPENED????

 

[ronott1]

I made the MM mistake once...never, I say NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!

I shared an order of SG Dorkings and Partridge Rocks from McMurray--The first batch came with over half of them dead and dying. The replacement shipment was the same. Eventually we got a refund.

It was February but still, so much death is terrible!

 

[ejcrist]

I shared an order of SG Dorkings and Partridge Rocks from McMurray--The first batch came with over half of them dead and dying. The replacement shipment was the same. Eventually we got a refund.

It was February but still, so much death is terrible!

Yeah, I agree. If that same thing happened to me I'd be a bit P.O.ed too.

 

[abbevilleoz]

How about Ideal Poultry? They were about $15.00 cheaper.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Hmmmmmm..........


.

 

[abbevilleoz]

Hmmmmmm.......... .

 

[ejcrist]

How about Ideal Poultry? They were about $15.00 cheaper.

Well, I never ordered direct from Ideal but that's where one of my favorite feed stores gets chicks from. I bought my Barred Rocks and Leghorns from that same feed store and they turned out good in my opinion. The only negative thing I can say about Ideal was that I ordered 9 White Leghorns through the feed store and two of them had black flecks in their feathering. I did a little research on Ideal's site and under their White Leghorn listing it says they reserve the right to substitute California Whites for White Leghorns unless you specifically state not to allow substitutions. Had I known this I would've said only send White Leghorns. The California Whites turned out really good but I just don't like the idea of them substituting since specific breeds matter to me since I live in an extreme climate and I researched the best breeds accordingly. MM has the same language about substitutions on their website so for my October order I checked off the box not to allow substitutions because I specifically want Brown Leghorns, Naked Necks, Dark Cornish, and the Cornish Crosses and nothing else. I even turned down the bonus chick because I'm not interested in anything but what I ordered. I probably could've taken the bonus chick and just ate him, but with my luck they'd probably send me a bantam Leghorn or something that wouldn't be worth the trouble of raising and cooking.

 

[abbevilleoz]

Well, I never ordered direct from Ideal but that's where one of my favorite feed stores gets chicks from. I bought my Barred Rocks and Leghorns from that same feed store and they turned out good in my opinion. The only negative thing I can say about Ideal was that I ordered 9 White Leghorns through the feed store and two of them had black flecks in their feathering. I did a little research on Ideal's site and under their White Leghorn listing it says they reserve the right to substitute California Whites for White Leghorns unless you specifically state not to allow substitutions. Had I known this I would've said only send White Leghorns. The California Whites turned out really good but I just don't like the idea of them substituting since specific breeds matter to me since I live in an extreme climate and I researched the best breeds accordingly. MM has the same language about substitutions on their website so for my October order I checked off the box not to allow substitutions because I specifically want Brown Leghorns, Naked Necks, Dark Cornish, and the Cornish Crosses and nothing else. I even turned down the bonus chick because I'm not interested in anything but what I ordered. I probably could've taken the bonus chick and just ate him, but with my luck they'd probably send me a bantam Leghorn or something that wouldn't be worth the trouble of raising and cooking.

Come to think of it I raised BO, Brown Leghorns, bantams, and even Cornish X from chicks from my feed store years ago and they received their stock from Ideal. They were all healthy and thrived. The Brown Leghorns are beautiful birds! I think I'll go with Ideal this time and maybe we can compare notes. I plan on getting two dozen Cornish X chicks the middle of September. I haven't raised the Cornish X in almost twenty years and to be honest I didn't know what I was doing that time. I raised them just like my other chicks. I'm sure I'll be asking a lot of questions. Thanks!

 

[Kassaundra]

I just have a few cross girls, my project is quite a bit smaller. They are doing very well, still very active and growing like weeds, have not been to stressed through our summer (but they do love staying in the rabbit tunnels in the heat of the day) (colony tunnels so they are big). I think they should start laying soon, then I will see if Stripy Butt can mount or I will need to become a chicken molester. My first gen will be feathered but all will be Sc carriers. They should come into lay in mid to late spring, their offspring should be the naked larger meat chickens. So probably a year from now I will have the first of the naked meat birds then regroup and see how big they are and whether I need to add more cross back in for size.