Frustrated with all the options

[knurse1]

I’m currently shopping for my first flock of chicks and it’s just overwhelming. I don’t really want to buy potentially below average stock from one of the big hatcheries that offer vent sexing. I’d love to support a local breeder, but they are hard to find and usually sell straight run.

I can only have 6 hens, so straight run isn’t ideal. I’ve found some nice mid-size hatcheries, but again, most everything is straight run.

I’ve considered just ordering auto-sex or sex-link, but then I’m limited to certain breeds that may not be on my wishlist.

Another option is just to buy started pullets, but then you don’t get to raise them. So thanks for letting me vent. I’m sure I’ll end up with some wonderful hens..eventually.

I like Myers hatchery. You can get any chicken and good quality stuff for a good price. You can get babies or you can get full size ones too.

 

[Kelsykin]

This is my take on the hatcheries I have used in the past: In no particular order other than as I recall them.

MPC - nope bad experience never will try them again
McMurray - stock is decent and great customer service
Welp - acceptable not the best stock I have ever gotten
Meyer - decent stock and great customer service
Mt Healthy - hit or miss as far as quality
Purely Poultry - fantastic stock was a good experience
Ideal - decent stock and service
Townline - was acceptable nothing outstanding
Hoovers - decent stock and service
Estes - great service and stock

 

[Onyxflock]

I’m currently shopping for my first flock of chicks and it’s just overwhelming. I don’t really want to buy potentially below average stock from one of the big hatcheries that offer vent sexing. I’d love to support a local breeder, but they are hard to find and usually sell straight run.

I can only have 6 hens, so straight run isn’t ideal. I’ve found some nice mid-size hatcheries, but again, most everything is straight run.

I’ve considered just ordering auto-sex or sex-link, but then I’m limited to certain breeds that may not be on my wishlist.

Another option is just to buy started pullets, but then you don’t get to raise them. So thanks for letting me vent. I’m sure I’ll end up with some wonderful hens..eventually.

I had the same experience. Did all the research, calculating, etc. Then stopped by the local feed store (not big box, small town) and fell in live with the last 3 chicks they had. So I was off & running with Brahmas, and they are beautiful. 1 turned out to be a Rooster, so he's moved on. They were already 8 weeks, and too shy to get friendly by then. 2 years in and still skittish. They lay almost daily. Big brown eggs

Then bought 2 Golden laced Wyandottes 3 days old and the dog ate them. Had my cry, and went back for 2 more. They're now the sweetest girls, and raised by hand they're really friendly. They lay eggs every 2-4 days, brown eggs

The 5th hen I bought from another feed store, they had grown hens, 24-30 weeks that hadn't sold as chicks. She's Rhode Island Red x Leghorn -we call her Rosie. They said she was laying age and sure enough, she laid an egg in the box on the way home and hasn't stopped laying since. It took a while for her to integrate with the other 2. They beat her up pretty bad. But she's a tough little gal and now dominates the younger Wyandottes.

So there's just no predicting with Chickens.
Advice is buy them young and handle them. They will be easier to handle when you have to doctor or dust them.

 

[mrskenmore]

I had the same experience. Did all the research, calculating, etc. Then stopped by the local feed store (not big box, small town) and fell in live with the last 3 chicks they had. So I was off & running with Brahmas, and they are beautiful. 1 turned out to be a Rooster, so he's moved on. They were already 8 weeks, and too shy to get friendly by then. 2 years in and still skittish. They lay almost daily. Big brown eggs

Then bought 2 Golden laced Wyandottes 3 days old and the dog ate them. Had my cry, and went back for 2 more. They're now the sweetest girls, and raised by hand they're really friendly. They lay eggs every 2-4 days, brown eggs

The 5th hen I bought from another feed store, they had grown hens, 24-30 weeks that hadn't sold as chicks. She's Rhode Island Red x Leghorn -we call her Rosie. They said she was laying age and sure enough, she laid an egg in the box on the way home and hasn't stopped laying since. It took a while for her to integrate with the other 2. They beat her up pretty bad. But she's a tough little gal and now dominates the younger Wyandottes.

So there's just no predicting with Chickens.
Advice is buy them young and handle them. They will be easier to handle when you have to doctor or dust them.
View attachment 2979947View attachment 2979948

Well put Onyxflock!- what a great little flock you have there!

 

[Onyxflock]

Well put Onyxflock!- what a great little flock you have there!

Beginners "luck" - thank you. I was planning for more than 5, especially looking at this site. But have had injury & mite invasion and was real glad just a few birds to manage.

 

[Onyxflock]

There's nothing wrong with getting pullets or slightly older chicks & it takes the worry out of sexing & they are far less likely to die in those 1st weeks~ especially in those 1st few seasons while you are learning. Plus eggs arrive sooner. I started with POLs & it is a fallacy to say they aren't as friendly as starting with chicks. Honestly, it all depends on how much time you spend with your birds, how you interact with them & the sort of relationship you want to have. If you want friendly birds you have to put in the time knowing patience & treats are your best friends. IMO chicks belong with their mother learning how to be a chicken, not with a human ~ not a popular view but hen raised chicks are smarter & generally healthier.

I think what ruined it for me & the first 2 hens was the rooster as he matured. It was going nicely until he got hormones & decided I was the enemy.

 

[happyozarkgirl]

We live in Wisconsin, so probably similar climate. Last April, we bought our first 6 baby chicks from a feed store that is reputed to be trustworthy. Our experience was excellent. We chose 2 Orpingtons, 2 Australorpes, and 2 Easter Eggers. All 6 were correctly sexed and remain healthy as I write. We converted a wooden shed into a hen house with outdoor run. It is not heated, and they have stayed healthy - though egg production has been down the past couple weeks. All 3 breeds have been pleasant, but - personally - I love the Australorpes most of all. They are so friendly and actually seem happy. They are hardy and very good layers. I would love to have more. The only problem with the Orpingtons is that they struggle a little in hot temperatures. Last summer we had a string of 90+ days, and they were panting and having a hard time. With no power in the hen house, I bought a battery operated fan, and they sat right in front of it. This year I will buy a second fan, so they both can get plenty of cool breeze. Enjoy your new vwnture!

 

[OzChickens]

I'd love to hatch my own, but I can't have any more roosters. We don't eat chickens, so we'd have to rehome or sell, and roos are so plentiful here because of ordinances that people can't give away their extras.

I think that's true for a lot of BYCers. We just can't take the chance of getting males.

I’m in a city where roosters are banned. Fitted an anti crow collar. It doesn’t stop him crowing but limits the volume. Luckily I have pretty chill neighbours and a bit of space.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

For all pullets and no cockerels you're best bet is to pick up chicks at local feed store. See what they have to offer and pick and choose from there.

Vent sexing is very accurate. What happens when you buy direct from hatcheries is they toss in extras calling them rare breeds or box warmers for shipping. Those extra will always be male. Again, vent sexing is very accurate and the hatchery is simply trying to rid themselves of as many unwanted cockerels as they can.

When purchasing chicks marked as pullets from a feed store they are pullets. Local feed stores will be better for insuring this. Large box store chains tend to have a lot of tanks and untrained employees. Mismarking of tanks, consolidation of tanks and any number of factors results in an alarming number of people raising a different breed than they purchased and some males.

 

[MarkButcher]

I’m currently shopping for my first flock of chicks and it’s just overwhelming. I don’t really want to buy potentially below average stock from one of the big hatcheries that offer vent sexing. I’d love to support a local breeder, but they are hard to find and usually sell straight run.

I can only have 6 hens, so straight run isn’t ideal. I’ve found some nice mid-size hatcheries, but again, most everything is straight run.

I’ve considered just ordering auto-sex or sex-link, but then I’m limited to certain breeds that may not be on my wishlist.

Another option is just to buy started pullets, but then you don’t get to raise them. So thanks for letting me vent. I’m sure I’ll end up with some wonderful hens..eventually.

Why not just go to your local feed supply store and buy 2 or 3 of this and 2 or 3 of that? Take your phone and Google the breed you're looking at to see if they fit your criteria, layers or meat, and they should have tags that explain the breed attributes anyways, and just buy em, and stop fretting about it? The feed store will have straight or mixed run, and even if you bought straight runs, you're just as likely to end up with at least 1 misidentified rooster out of the bunch. Unless you're planning on showing them, nothing you're going to buy is going to have any genetic issue that's going to be a big deal to you.