Buying chicks online death percentage & pullet percentage (when asked for)

[Ridgerunner]

You’re making me think, it’s been a while. I’ve only ordered chicks by mail three times, once each from Cackle, Meyer, and Ideal. Best I can remember I’ve had a total of 70 chicks. Of those one died a day after it got here. The rest made it.

Of those only 20 were supposed to be pullets, the rest were either cockerels or straight run. Of the 20 that were supposed to be pullets, 19 were.

 

[adcockfarm]

That's still great odds

decided the shipping cost was too much, got a white leghorn from hatchery. Thanks!!!

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Last spring I ordered 6 chicks through the local feed store, not sure which hatchery they use.

I got 3 RIR's and 3 EE's

All 3 RIR's are laying well now.

Of the EE's, one died within 24hrs of bringing it home, one was a Roo and the last one is still not laying eggs at almost 10mo old, Arggggh!

So at this point, I'm pretty disappointed in my EE experience.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

If I was in So Cal, I would just call around the feed stores.

I got two orders from MPC last year with 18 chicks the first time and 14 the next. USPS messed up both times, I lost all but two chicks. Those ended up being 1 male and 1 female from a straight run order.

USPS messed up a 3rd order form a breeder and 14 out of 21 survived. We are talking 4 days in transit.

I hope you are adding to an existing flock and not trying to keep just 1 chick....

 

[adcockfarm]

we are adding it to two existing older chicks and then to a 3 hen flock, 6 total

 

[EggSighted4Life]

we are adding it to two existing older chicks and then to a 3 hen flock, 6 total

Hope it goes well!

You'd be surprised how many people try to keep just a single chicken... so I had to ask.

Nice to have fresh layers to add to your older flock.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Last spring I ordered 6 chicks through the local feed store, not sure which hatchery they use.

I got 3 RIR's and 3 EE's

All 3 RIR's are laying well now.

Of the EE's, one died within 24hrs of bringing it home, one was a Roo and the last one is still not laying eggs at almost 10mo old, Arggggh!

So at this point, I'm pretty disappointed in my EE experience.

That (late laying) is typical of EEs, and in your case its being extended even more because of winter. My oldest EE did not lay until 9 months and that was in August. If she had been a spring chick I don't think I'd have gotten an egg out of her until she was at least a year old.

 

[dekel18042]

That (late laying) is typical of EEs, and in your case its being extended even more because of winter. My oldest EE did not lay until 9 months and that was in August. If she had been a spring chick I don't think I'd have gotten an egg out of her until she was at least a year old.

Perhaps because EE's can be somewhat mixes, people may have different experiences. Of all the breeds I have and have had EE's are my hands down favorite. My "purebred" EE's (Sometime I'll breed something else in to change a characteristic) have all started laying at between five and six months old, even in the dead of winter and are among my best layers and have the shortest downtime for molting.
My original ones I got from My Pet Chicken and then I bred my own since then.
This past year I made sex link hybrid EE's One parent was something else and for the first time the girls didn't start laying until they hit seven months. But I attributed that to the fact they were a late in the season hatch and had another mix in, but they are now constantly laying beautiful blue eggs.
I've also found the rooster can affect the age at which his daughters lay so if you can get a rooster from a line that lays young that can help.
Good luck. I hope this doesn't turn you off on EE's. They have so much going for them and can be used in so many breeding projects.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Last spring I ordered 6 chicks through the local feed store, not sure which hatchery they use.

I got 3 RIR's and 3 EE's

All 3 RIR's are laying well now.

Of the EE's, one died within 24hrs of bringing it home, one was a Roo and the last one is still not laying eggs at almost 10mo old, Arggggh!

So at this point, I'm pretty disappointed in my EE experience.

Are you sure there isn't a hidden nest?

EE are such a mixed bag. I rarely get consistency from egg laying. Half mine are flighty and the other half aren't and will jump in my lap. My earliest layer was at 18 weeks during winter. But had another not start until 26 weeks. And my girl from the same batch and source as the 16 week starter is just thinking about it at 35 ish weeks.

10 months would have me

.

Some of my August born girls have already started laying before some of my June born. Weird how that's working out.

RIR are laying machines. EE will never rival that. But they also don't all look like the same chicken. I like getting different colors of eggs every day. But there are lots of shades of brown that add excitement to.

If you have the space I would add 3 more pullets this spring so you will still get eggs next winter when all your girls stop laying to molt. I don't think it's 100% accurate but here is good chicken chart to reference....

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Even if you don't mean it... you could always show her the ax!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Even if you don't mean it... you could always show her the ax!

I tried that a lot with Snakehead. She would just give me the stink eye or run away laughing and then eat all the food with no payment. I still love her to death though. lol