Frustrated with all the options

[Wolfie307]

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.

 

[Iluveggers]

Oh this is my favorite topic to talk about! So I have lots of questions of course! What breed(s) are you looking for? What general area do you live? How big is your coop if you have one?

 

[springvalley123]

Welcome!
Sounds like you know your options.
For buying started pullets, it's common in some parts for sellers to pass off spent hens as young birds, or they're "just reducing their flock" (of the sick, egg eaters, aggressive, etc).
Even if you order auto-sexed breeds, there's always a chance that the hatchery makes a mistake in picking up a chick from the wrong bin and putting it into your box. I got a barred rock pullet in my batch of sex-linked pullets (plus a cockerel of the correct breed).
There's always the chance that a bird will become sickly, so you have to be ready to cull/euthanize anyway, or have a friend who can take care of that.
I've only gotten hatchery birds, whether from the feed store or directly from the hatchery, and have had decent results, but then I don't want to show the birds.
Sometimes when you get too much info you just have to say "what's the worst that could happen" and go for it. Good luck!

 

[neo71665]

Remember just because you buy "sexed" chicks there is still the risk somebody was wrong.

 

[Wolfie307]

Oh this is my favorite topic to talk about! So I have lots of questions of course! What breed(s) are you looking for? What general area do you live? How big is your coop if you have one?

I live in Minnesota, so I need cold hardy. Planning on a woods style coop 6x10 with a 60 sq ft outdoor run. I’d love friendly, quiet(ish), hardy birds. I think Orpington’s look nice, I love the coloring choices of Wyandotte’s. Green/blue egg layers would be fun too. I would like decent layers. Pet quality is fine, since I don’t think we would show. Thanks!

 

[Wolfie307]

Remember just because you buy "sexed" chicks there is still the risk somebody was wrong.

You’re absolutely right, so there’s always going to be the risk of re-homing or culling. My grandparents had a quail farm that I helped on as a kid, so I’ve seen my share of processing, etc. Culling Roos would absolutely be my last choice.

 

[Tonyroo]

Wyandotte and Orpington chicks are very hard to sex. That's why they're usually sold as straight runs.

 

[Wolfie307]

Welcome!
Sounds like you know your options.
For buying started pullets, it's common in some parts for sellers to pass off spent hens as young birds, or they're "just reducing their flock" (of the sick, egg eaters, aggressive, etc).
Even if you order auto-sexed breeds, there's always a chance that the hatchery makes a mistake in picking up a chick from the wrong bin and putting it into your box. I got a barred rock pullet in my batch of sex-linked pullets (plus a cockerel of the correct breed).
There's always the chance that a bird will become sickly, so you have to be ready to cull/euthanize anyway, or have a friend who can take care of that.
I've only gotten hatchery birds, whether from the feed store or directly from the hatchery, and have had decent results, but then I don't want to show the birds.
Sometimes when you get too much info you just have to say "what's the worst that could happen" and go for it. Good luck!

Seriously at this point I’m like maybe we should just go to the farm supply store and pick up something cute. Ok not really. I’m way too much of a planner!

 

[Wolfie307]

Wyandotte and Orpington chicks are very hard to sex. That's why they're usually sold as straight runs.

Good to know. Ty.

 

[BDutch]

How I got 6 hens:
When I started with chickens, I bought chicks a few miles from where I live .

I wanted 4 and bought four. The seller told me he was quit sure it were all pullets he sold me. I made an agreement to change roosters for pullets if I had any roosters.
But two chicks died suddenly and I went back. Bought 3 more and I ended up with 3 young roosters and 2 pullets. So I went back again and he had only younger chicks to trade. I had some trouble with the pecking order with 2 older and three younger chicks.
One died, one turned out to be a pullet and one turned out to be a rooster. I brought this rooster back too.
The next year I put fertilised eggs under a broody .
I ended up with 3 more pullets and gave the roosters away. So finally I got 6 hens. A great status quo for a few years. But after a couple of years they take longer winter breaks and lay less frequent. So I bought fertilised eggs again …

Keeping chickens is an ongoing proces. And one way ore another, (most) roosters get culled or need to go.