Couple of questions about my first chick purchase...

[MustangGal]

I did do a search and didn't find the answers I needed.

The chicks are from a locally owned feed store. I called this morning and some of the chicks are two weeks old and some are one week. Can I mix these guys or do I need to choose one wk or two week olds? Also, since I am not getting day old chicks.... what would be the expected mortality rate for two weekers and one weekers? I want to have about a dozen hens, so I'm trying to figure out how many I should buy. I know even if they are sexed, mistakes are inevitible....

Any advice you want to offer for choosing chicks?

 

[wannabchick]

Quote:
I think your fine.just watch them..you will know..
And congrats on your new babies

Oh and the only time ever had moratility was pure 100percent smashed ...



Most important is their size ratio to each other
Xoxoxxo

 

[schellie69]

More then likely all the 1 and 2 week old chicks are in the same bin, I would just get the ones that you like I don't think there is much difference in a week. At this age they should be pretty healthy. I would get a couple extra then you want just in case of a rooster or if one dies. Trust me chicken math works every time. Good luck and enjoy your new chicks.

 

[smallcitychick]

2 week olds and 1 week olds are still pretty close in age and size. I've mixed them before with no problems at all.
As for mortality.....if you pick chicks that are running around and healthy you should be good. I ordered 12 day olds, had them shipped through the mail and lost one at about a week and a half. This year I picked up 25 day old chicks at the local feed store and lost one at around a week old. So it really varies. But if you're picking up older chicks I say the mortality rate drops sharply (meaning they will most likely survive)

If you buy a sex link (comets, cinnamon queen, red layers, black sex link, gold sex link, red sex link, etc...) then it's guaranteed that you will have hens (since males hatch a different color than females).

 

[MustangGal]

Thanks so much for the quick answers! I think I will try to get a few sex link, but I have my heart set on some Easter Egg and Buff Orpingtons or some type of buff chicken... I love the yellow color!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You should be able to mix the one and two week olds with very little problems. Occasionally you get an Attila or Attilalita the Hun that is a terror, but that can happen with chicks the same age. I really would not expect any serious problems. If you can get them all the same age, that would be better, but marginally so.

At that age, you are pretty much passed the ones that are born with fatal defects or just don't learn to eat or drink. As long as you select active normal-looking chicks, I'd expect mortality rates to be very low. Don't fall in love with one standing hunched over and looking oh so pitiful. Look for the active ones.

How many should you buy to get a dozen hens? I wish I knew. The hatcheries usually guarantee about a 90% correct rate on sexing. This is for full-sized breeds. If you get bantams, forget it. They don't even try with bantams. Does the feed store have a pullet only bin? Some do, some don't. Do the feed store people know enough to keep the pullets only chicks separated from the straight run? Some do, some don't. Does the feed store allow customers to pick the chicks up to look at then put them back in the wrong bin? Have people that really know chicks picked through them and maybe got the ones most likely to be pullets? If you know the breeds that are present, sometimes there can be clues.

There are so many different clues and what might be a sign of a rooster in one breed or cross is a sign of a pullet in another. I'm not going to give any because, depending on options, I might be steering you wrong. I would stay away from large yellow chicks feathering in white. These could easily be broiler chicks, not suitable for layers. At two weeks, these should be a lot larger.

If there is a pullets only bin, I'd probably get 12 to 14. You have to have some faith in humanity. If there is only a mixed bin, I'd probably pull 25 to 30 and figure out something to do with the roosters. My real worry in this is that someone knowledgeable has picked over them, more than a hatchery or feed store problem.

Good luck!

 

[MustangGal]

Thanks for the great advice! I am so stinking excited to go get the little chickies! I have to wait until school is out so DS can go with me, besides - I REALLY need to be working on my research paper - finals are next week! This is addicting!

ETA: Ridgerunner! we must be neighbors! I am in Carroll County!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm in Washington, in the vicinity of Prairie Grove.

You might want to check out this thread. We'd love to have you join.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=37675

 

[dweej]

If it makes you feel any better, we had zero experience but did a lot of research and have been careful and we've had 0% mortality (so far!

) with our chicks. We've made it to 5 weeks old already. Woo hoo!