chicks from Blain's Farm and Fleet - odds of survival?

[trailz]

Total newbies!

We're hopefully heading to Farm and Fleet to pic up some chicks tonight. We want to end up with 3 hens, but my wife thinks we should get 4 chicks, thinking we'll loose one along the way while the chicks grow up. Are F&F chicks generally healthy?

We'll follow all the great care guidelines found on this site and others, but being novices...

Should we get 3 or 4 chicks???

 

[Rocky Road]

I know nothing about F&F but if you want 3 hens. . . . the ratio is about 50:50 so you're trying to beat the odds with only 4 chicks. And as long as they have food, water and heat they shouldnt' give you much trouble, but heat is very important.

You can always put the roo's in the freezer or try to sell them later on

 

[Chickencoop1996]

 

[debid]

If it's anything like the farm store chicks here, you will be able to get sexed pullets (which makes it more like 95% that they're female). As for health, it depends very much on the conditions at the store. So, look at how crowded they are, whether they have poop stuck to their vents, if the food and water is reasonably clean, etc.

I think the best plan is to get at least three but no more than you can house comfortably.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have a couple of friends back in WI that get their chicks from Farm and Fleet every year and don't have any losses due to poor health.

 

[Kitty135]

I got 15 chicks from the Farm and Fleet over by Ottawa, IL. They're 8 weeks old now, and we've only lost one. I would recommend getting 4 or 5 chicks if you want 3 hens.

 

[Ruth Ann]

I say get more than 3...but I follow chicken math rules.
Hope they do well for you.

 

[pixiedouglas]

I think you should count on one loss and one rooster so get five.

 

[5chicks4us]

One of my F&F chicks died (out of 5). I would buy an extra to be on the safe side.

 

[ragerkid2]

Get 5 but build a coop for ten! Chickens are addictive!