Considering some Whiting Tru Blues

[ChickNanny13]

I'm considering ordering some WTB from McMurray. Yes, the blue colored eggs are inviting yet the main draw is the bird themselves are varied in colors. I don't live in an agricultural zoned home but have tolerant neighbors My Chicken House is 8 x 12 x 7; I've housed is 5 Wyandottes, while 4BOs is comfortable. It's my way of controlling Chicken Math.

Would appreciate anyone that has or had WTB to give me your opinion of the personalities and characteristics. Are they flighty? Free ranged or confined? Friendly or standoffish? Broody?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

We started three this year.....definitely varied appearance

(Ignore green mark....was used to mark a whiting true green for previous use....purple arrow shows a wtb behind her)
The blue is at my sister's now, part of a "farm flock" and not meant to be friendly as they aren't kept as pets . Middle bird is staying here and is second most friendly of that age group (second to my Delaware). Bottom will be going to my daughter's flock....that one is a bit, um, nutty.
Only 14 weeks now so a lot remains to be seen

 

[ChickNanny13]

@Ol Grey Mare Thank you for sharing your WTB flock, love the varied colors. Hoping to get more feed back to make a decision. They are "pricey" and shipping to here is "iffy" hence my research prior. A friend ordered (McMurray) 15 chicks, only 5 survived the trip ... Hatchery will be replacing but the thought that so many didn't survive shipping. Think she's going for refund if this time around she looses, not wanting to put chicks through the shipping stress again.

 

[chkncrazy]

I was lucky enough to find somebody selling them as poets I've only had them for about 3 days and they are very very nervous and flighty I don't know if it's because I'm trying to accommodate them to my new flock so they're freaked out a little bit Murray Hatchery also has the same types I say go for it if you're into ordering chicks.... if I decide to go with chicks again I definitely would order at least five or six of these!!!..... let me know how you make out

 

[ChickNanny13]

Got my first pale "baby blue", waiting on the other WTB to start laying which looks to be next week. WTG laying the "pink/brown" & olive green eggs, although noticed last weeks egg carton, the center one has a tinge of blue.

 

[DallasLoneStar]

Have not heard great things about their temperaments. I got Easter edgers instead which give me pretty bluish greenish eggs and are also great pets and very healthy.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I love them Read alot of negative also but these have proved "can't believe everything you read" Wondering if it's because these are from McMurray and not the Whiting Farm "originals"?

I don't find them any different from the other breeds I've kept ... Orpingtons, Wyandottes, EEs, Australorps & RIRs. The first 3yrs of my chicken keeping I allowed "yard grubbing" but after the RIR dug craters in the yard, I changed my methods. Hubby built me a 8 x 12 x 7 Chicken House (Jan 2016), I keep them confined, limited to 4 - 6 and change sets when I go on my GrandMa Trip.

I wouldn't say they're flighty nor stand offish, train them with treats in a plastic container, they do get under foot when I'm do cleaning so I toss scratch on the opposite side of where I'm cleaning. There's on that loves to supervise, no harder to catch than any others when wanting to do care maintenance. Do that every month, noticed they're more relaxed in my lap that they don't have to be "restrained" anymore.

Thinking it's possible it's the amount to time spent, I do spend alot of time in there with them, ask Hubby

 

[ChickNanny13]

Second WTB (lower) laid her first egg this morning, the one that laid yesterday (top) hasn't laid today. WTGs are laying everyday.