Delawares as Packing peanuts?

[embkm]

These standard sized chicks were sent as packing peanuts with my banty assortment from Ideal. Is is possible they are Delawares? Do hatcheries even send those as Peanuts? I thought is was always the more common breeds. I asked about these and a bunch of the others in the Breed section last week, and I was told they were Sex Link roos. I know they are roos, but I also know they are NOT sex links. So what do you all think? Dellie roos? Or something else?

 

[Backyard Hencam]

What do you mean by "packing peanuts"? Are you saying that hatcheries are putting in unordered birds to fill the space in the boxes? If I ordered pullets, I would not want roos sent to me. Can anyone explain this practice to me?

 

[maureen9962]

I don't think they are Delawares.

 

[BriteChicken]

To keep the ones you ordered warm enough if you don't order enough to do that themselves say 5 or 10 then they send packing peanuts=roos to keep everyone warm and you can butcher or sell them later at least it's better than what the hatcheries would have to do

 

[madornato]

I find this practice rather disturbing considering that if you order only the bantams maybe you only have room for the bantams. Maybe you don't have room for the roos they are sending. What do they expect you to do with them? I live on plenty of acreage and would just keep them, raise them, and then slaughter, but what if you have confined space? I guess they figure you'll cull them or give them away, right? I personally could not cull perfectly healthy roos although I know it's done all the time. I guess if you don't mind having the extra roos it' not a problem. Sorry I don't have any idea as to what the roos are you were sent. How many bantams were you sent and how many roos were sent as "peanuts"? I'm just curious.

 

[jimma207]

I could be wrong about Ideal, but most hatcheries when you order ask if you do or dont want extras. If you ask not to have any they will not send extras. sometimes it is in the small print. ....but it is disclosed.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, those could be Delaware cockerels.


<------see avatar.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Wow! I've heard of "packing peanuts" on this site but never knew what they were. I guess if you are asked before they are sent, that is all right. I would certainly not want to deal with a rooster I couldn't keep. Sometimes I have to just close my eyes to this whole hatchery thing. Hope you are not upset about receiving the roosters. Perhaps you are even happy!

I hope so

 

[embkm]

Thanks Speckledhen.

And to those asking about the "packing peanuts"... I wasn't specifically asked about whether I wanted them or not, but it does state on the website and in their catalog that they may send "extra males for warmth". If I didnt want them, I could pay extra for insurance or go to a different company that uses heat pack. These were in a shipment to replace 11 chicks that had died from my first order. They sent 15 bantams and 6 of the large chicks. I don't really mind the extras, I was a little upset at first though because the big ones had almost smooshed 3 of the tiniest banties in the shipping box. But they are a month old now. I lost one of the big guys last week, but all the banties are doing great. The only problem I have with recieving possible Delawares as packing peanuts is that I don't have any girls for them and they are not in my breeding plans, and I think they are absolutely stunning roosters so I might have a hard time processing them when the time comes.

 

[HBuehler]

Agreed with Speckledhen..those look like Delaware roos to me..we have several in brooders now.The Hatchery Delaware's are not that awful rare-they all seem to carry them and if they had extras that day they would use them as well.
Your not going to get Bantam packing peanuts so if you don't want packing peanuts it's best to buy extras and just sell them..