Frustrated about the availability of chicks

[JacinLarkwell]

Sounds like so much fun! Why not let your chickens hatch and raise them? Wouldn’t that be easier? Or am I being terribly naive?

Not all chickens will go broody, and even if they do, not all will be good moms.

 

[Iluveggers]

Yes! BYC once again Actually looked at Mt. Healthy

Thank you for the advice! I actually found two other Mt. Healthy recommendation on BYC last night and started looking!

To help me decide what breed to get, I had spent hours and hours creating a 4 page spreadsheet based on what the co-op said they were getting this year. I sifted through details of 100’s of chickens and eventually decided I wanted California Grey and Production Blue chickens. (For a very large number of Large white and a large number of large blue eggs.).

Basically what I’m saying is that I had my heart set and now I can’t get what I wanted. It’s a long commitment and I don’t expect to get more for years to come.

So I am torn between doing more research and settling for another breed and therefore abandoning my white and blue egg dreams. Or waiting until the craze dies down. What would you do?

Also, what breed of chicks did you get this year? And why?

Just a question, did the production blue chickens actually lay blue eggs? There are Blue Sex Links, Blue Rocks, and Rhode Island Blues but any of them I've heard of are blue feathered and lay brown eggs.
Mt Healthy has Americanas and Olive Eggers for blue/green eggs, (pretty friendly), and Brown & White Leghorns for white eggs (much more flighty). Totally up to you, if you wait until January and order early you can find a place that has exactly what you want. If you really want new chicks this year then you have to decide if those colors are going to make or break your decision.

I ordered a variety of breeds this year...went in with a few co-workers and got more than we needed. A few "fun" breeds like Cochins, Brahmas, Turkens, Sussex, Orpingtons, Americanas...and a few more productive layers like Leghorns, Australorps, Rhode Island Red, and some sex-links. My son is my chicken guy so he will help me choose which ones we are keeping. I like a few friendly chickens that lay less but will lay longer, and a few that will lay almost daily. We need eggs over the winter so this is the best of both worlds for us! I sit in the yard and let my friendlys jump on my lap, and give my more standoffish girls some space (although they all come running for dinner scraps regardless if they let me pick them up or not!) Although I like a pretty basket, once winter comes I am happy for eggs of any color!

 

[townchicks]

Breeding your own chicks with a rooster and hens maximizes self-sufficiency, eliminating reliance on external chick suppliers. This provides direct control over your poultry's lineage, feed, and living conditions, ensuring consistent access to quality eggs and meat.
This method fosters food security, reduces dependence on fluctuating markets, and promotes sustainable practices. It cultivates valuable animal husbandry skills and deepens understanding of food production. Conversely, purchasing chicks or chickens from external suppliers maintains dependence on potentially unstable supply chains, limits control over quality, and forgoes the development of crucial self-reliance skills.

Sure, all well and good for those who can, and want to. Good for you, if that's what your plan is. Many of us, however, can't or don't want a rooster, have limits on numbers we can keep, or may want to get some breeds they don't currently have. Thus, you do what you can. Hence, farm stores or hatcheries are the way to go. Or, in my case, a rescue organization. Many different flavors.

 

[OphyliaOrpington]

Just a question, did the production blue chickens actually lay blue eggs? There are Blue Sex Links, Blue Rocks, and Rhode Island Blues but any of them I've heard of are blue feathered and lay brown eggs.
Mt Healthy has Americanas and Olive Eggers for blue/green eggs, (pretty friendly), and Brown & White Leghorns for white eggs (much more flighty). Totally up to you, if you wait until January and order early you can find a place that has exactly what you want. If you really want new chicks this year then you have to decide if those colors are going to make or break your decision.

I ordered a variety of breeds this year...went in with a few co-workers and got more than we needed. A few "fun" breeds like Cochins, Brahmas, Turkens, Sussex, Orpingtons, Americanas...and a few more productive layers like Leghorns, Australorps, Rhode Island Red, and some sex-links. My son is my chicken guy so he will help me choose which ones we are keeping. I like a few friendly chickens that lay less but will lay longer, and a few that will lay almost daily. We need eggs over the winter so this is the best of both worlds for us! I sit in the yard and let my friendlys jump on my lap, and give my more standoffish girls some space (although they all come running for dinner scraps regardless if they let me pick them up or not!) Although I like a pretty basket, once winter comes I am happy for eggs of any color!

The research I did said to expect large light blue eggs. All other blue layers said medium. I have seen others complain about getting chickens that were supposed to lay blue and ended up being brown. I’ve also seen a lot of places say orpingtons and jersey giants will lay large eggs. I no longer believe this to be true b/c my 1 yr old orpingtons and giants only lay small to med eggs. Hoping they get bigger as they get older. So the answer is, I’m not sure if I was going to get real blue eggs or not!

I only have room for 12 and, being quite practical, I want to maximize my egg production. Hubby wants cool looking birds. These “wants” seems to conflict with each other. Still don’t know what to do, but leaning toward waiting for the birds I really want AND adding a rooster to the flock.

 

[Iluveggers]

The research I did said to expect large light blue eggs. All other blue layers said medium. I have seen others complain about getting chickens that were supposed to lay blue and ended up being brown. I’ve also seen a lot of places say orpingtons and jersey giants will lay large eggs. I no longer believe this to be true b/c my 1 yr old orpingtons and giants only lay small to med eggs. Hoping they get bigger as they get older. So the answer is, I’m not sure if I was going to get real blue eggs or not!

I only have room for 12 and, being quite practical, I want to maximize my egg production. Hubby wants cool looking birds. These “wants” seems to conflict with each other. Still don’t know what to do, but leaning toward waiting for the birds I really want AND adding a rooster to the flock.

Good thing is, you have lots of time to figure it out! I have heard amazing things about Whiting Blues & Whiting Greens, available from McMurray. They lay a lot of blue & green eggs, and can be pretty friendly for a high-production layer! They sell out quick, so if you wait til next year they might be a good contender!

 

[AinaWGSD]

It doesn't help with white eggs, but Meyer sells "sapphire gems" in both regular and frizzle that lay large blue eggs and has availability from April on.

Mine is my most prolific layer of large eggs. She's also my loudest pullet, but the neighbors haven't complained yet.

 

[OphyliaOrpington]

Good thing is, you have lots of time to figure it out! I have heard amazing things about Whiting Blues & Whiting Greens, available from McMurray. They lay a lot of blue & green eggs, and can be pretty friendly for a high-production layer! They sell out quick, so if you wait til next year they might be a good contender!

Don’t want to open a can of worms, but I’m wondering how folks feel about Herritage vs hybrid breads? Am I being a silly snowflake to worry that people made these birds and maybe without the best intentions for the birds themselves?

Sure, all well and good for those who can, and want to. Good for you, if that's what your plan is. Many of us, however, can't or don't want a rooster, have limits on numbers we can keep, or may want to get some breeds they don't currently have. Thus, you do what you can. Hence, farm stores or hatcheries are the way to go. Or, in my case, a rescue organization. Many different flavors.

I might rescue an Orpington rooster if you know of one in need.

It doesn't help with white eggs, but Meyer sells "sapphire gems" in both regular and frizzle that lay large blue eggs and has availability from April on.View attachment 4080234View attachment 4080235Mine is my most prolific layer of large eggs. She's also my loudest pullet, but the neighbors haven't complained yet.

What a beautiful egg basket you have! sapphire gems were on my list at one point! And those are definitely some large blue eggs. Totally worth considering. Who/what breed is laying your large white eggs? Your lightest browns look like my Orpington eggs, but bigger!

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Don’t want to open a can of worms, but I’m wondering how folks feel about Herritage vs hybrid breads? Am I being a silly snowflake to worry that people made these birds and maybe without the best intentions for the birds themselves?

I might rescue an Orpington rooster if you know of one in need.

What a beautiful egg basket you have! sapphire gems were on my list at one point! And those are definitely some large blue eggs. Totally worth considering. Who/what breed is laying your large white eggs? Your lightest browns look like my Orpington eggs, but bigger!

I'm heritage only. Delawares. Only Delawares. I had a shipment of chicks sent to me of pure BIG heritage Delawares after I got a few from the hatchery a few years ago. Huge difference. Great breed.

 

[TexasBlues]

Thus, you do what you can. Hence, farm stores or hatcheries are the way to go. Or, in my case, a rescue organization. Many different flavors.

I would try for the local small producer first. I offer surplus hatching eggs and chicks locally for the same price as the mass produced shipped chicks.

 

[FrostRanger]

Don’t want to open a can of worms, but I’m wondering how folks feel about Herritage vs hybrid breads? Am I being a silly snowflake to worry that people made these birds and maybe without the best intentions for the birds themselves?

I might rescue an Orpington rooster if you know of one in need.

What a beautiful egg basket you have! sapphire gems were on my list at one point! And those are definitely some large blue eggs. Totally worth considering. Who/what breed is laying your large white eggs? Your lightest browns look like my Orpington eggs, but bigger!

Should be clarified that not all hybrids are production hybrids. Most of my flock are nonproduction hybrids (easter eggers), I will always have some in my flock 'cause their unpredictability in color and egg color is fun and they have wonderful temperaments

As for production hybrids, not my thing. I prefer birds that lay a bit less often but lay for longer. I don't need the super high production of production breeds. I do acknowledge they do have their place depending on what one's goals are, i personally have no problem with them, they just don't fit into my goals