Buying Straight Run......Odds of Roosters?

[MoChkRch]

Back raising chickens again....so quick question. In May I ordered from a hatchery, part of the order were Lavender Ameraucanas chicks (straight run) They weren't cheap $14 each. I ordered 6 and the hatchery sent 7 (extra one just in case during shipping) Ok long story short, out of the 7 chicks I got 4 roosters! Is that normal? Doesn't seem very good odds, and one of the roosters has the crossed beak! Very disappointed I asked the hatchery when I ordered if I could get pullets. They said no. I know no one wants roosters. I did contact the hatchery about the crossed beak, and they said they would refund the cost of that one....But do I have any recourse on all the roosters? Thanks

 

[AlleysChicks]

I actually think that’s good lol last year I bought a dozen straight run bantams. And only 3 were pullets. 3/12 so 9 boys running around. And I also bought 3 leghorn pullets. Of which 2 turned out to be boys.

 

[True Patriot]

I ordered 10, looks like I have 5 roo and 3 pullets. (lost 2 to predators before knowing what they were) As far as the cross beak, a reputable dealer should take care of it. As far as male vs female ratio. If you ordered straight run, you get what they send. The only time I know of that they'll make refunds or changes is if you ordered sexed. If the hatchery won't fill a sexed order you may consider using a different source.

 

[Alexandra33]

They say the odds are usually that you'll receive half pullets and half cockerels, but there's absolutely no guarantee it'll end up equal numbers males and females in any given brood. Things can turn out pretty lopsided, if you ask me.

Here's a list of my straight run batches and outcomes for reference:

1st group of 4, Mallard ducklings I hatched: 4 drakes, 0 hens.

2nd group of 13, all bantams: 8 pullets, 5 cockerels.

3rd group of 12, Easter Eggers: 2 pullets, 10 cockerels.

4th group of 9, bantams and Welsummers: 5 pullets, 4 cockerels

5th group of 2, Call ducks: 2 drakes, 0 hens.

6th group of 9, all bantams: 7 pullets, 2 cockerels.

7th group of 5, Call ducks: 4 drakes, 1 hen.

8th group of 6, Sebrights: 5 pullets, 1 cockerel.

9th group of 12, Old English Game bantams: 1 pullet, 5 cockerels, 5 sexed pullets, and 1 sexed cockerel.

10th group of 6, all bantams (in progress): so far, three definite pullets, 1 definite cockerel, and two unknowns.

~Alex

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I bought 7 s/r once - 4 hens, 3 roos.

 

[MoChkRch]

Thank you all for your replies...I appreciate the information.

 

[keesmom]

Ok long story short, out of the 7 chicks I got 4 roosters! Is that normal? Doesn't seem very good odds

Why do you think you received an excess of cockerels? When ordering straight run on average you get 50/50 cockerels to pullets. Your ratio 4/7 is rather close to that average.

They ALL could have been male. Once I had a broody hen hatch 7/7 male chicks for me.

 

[True Patriot]

It seems to me that ordering straight run actually has a higher chance to get cockerels. I've never been in a hatchery much less worked in one. But the math in my head says-

if I hatch xxxx number of chicks and have a 50/50 split. I then fill my orders for sexed chicks. Since orders for pullets outnumber cockerel orders my remaining ratio is no longer my 50/50 start. Say I'm now 70/30, if I have an order for 10 straight run and pick up the 10 closest chicks to me. The odds are I have packed 7 cockerels and 3 pullets.

 

[1 acre willows]

Seems when I hatch, both incubator or broody hen, 60/40 or 70/30 rooster to hen ratio..... varies on batches but I've also only hatched what my mutts have laid too.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

If all the eggs hatched then it should be 50/50, but still things always happen and some don't hatch. So you never know what you are going to get. Though personally I have always gotten 50/50 or more pullets. I'm just lucky I guess.