Creating my flock

[heathercara]

Hi! This is such a great site with such helpful people

I will be getting my first chicks this year. The thing is, I have my heart set on Silkies. My local feed store should be getting a few shipments of chicks: one shipment without silkies on 3/8 (where I plan to get some regular RI Reds, etc.), and a shipment with silkies on 3/15. 3/15 is their only scheduled shipment of silkies. And, as always, the shipments are subject to change.

My boyfriend wants some egg-layers, so we'll have a mix of Silkies and egg-laying hens.

Since baby chicks can really only be 2 weeks apart in age (this is what I was told), do you think I should risk it and buy chicks on 3/8 with the expectation that they'll have silkies on 3/15 or be safe and order my own silkies? Also, we don't want roosters, and I have found some places where the chicks are DNA-tested, but they're around $100 or more, which seems expensive, but again - I'm new to this, so maybe not?

Thoughts about hoping silkies are shipped vs. ordering and whether or not I should just be safe and get ones that are guaranteed hens? Thank you!

 

[Wezdin]

When you say $100 how many is that for? 10?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

$100 is a lot for a single chicken...

 

[Wezdin]

Can you get a shipment of egg layers on the 15th? If so I would do that

 

[heathercara]

When you say $100 how many is that for? 10?

Noooo - that's for one! That's why I was like ????

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

$100 is a lot for a single chicken...

Depends on breed, quality, line, etc.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Check out mypetchicken. They have a large selection of chicks to choose from including a few Silkie varieties. They’re very helpful and can steer you towards breeds that will get along with the Silkies.

 

[Wezdin]

If you are buying hatchery quality DO NOT BUY A CHICK FOR $100!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I'd be careful choosing breeds to mix with Silkies, and definitely get them at the same time, or have the standard birds a bit younger than the Silkies, not the other way.
In my experience, production reds, which include hatchery RIRs, tend to be aggressive with their flockmates, and could be a real threat to Silkies, who are smaller, cat's see well under that cute top knot, and are generally more fragile. Many people with Silkies have them in a separate coop, so be ready.
There are so many breeds and colors to choose! Have you looked at feathersite online, or the Cackle catalog, or Henderson's breed chart? So many choices!!!
Mary

 

[heathercara]

If you are buying hatchery quality DO NOT BUY A CHICK FOR $100!

This isn't a hatchery, but it's a place with show chickens (?) that does DNA testing to make sure they're ladies. I'm torn between 1. Betting that my feed store will get Silkies; 2. Ordering the Silkies from an online place where I need to order between 5 and 6 (was planning on 3); or 3. Getting the expensive Silkies so that I know for sure they are hens.