Help me decide: chicks or pullets?

[lagrange chicks]

Have you thought about how your dog will react to chickens?

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

My 3 year old grandson loves visiting my chickens, hand-feeding them and giving gentle pets (while I hold the bird). I'm not sure about raising chicks, depends on the toddler and how much motor & emotional control and patience he has. I wouldn't go there with my GS but he's only 3, and isn't around animals much except when he visits (lives in a city apartment). Your son sounds mature & gentle enough at age 4, with experience being gentle with small animals - world of difference!

My 2 Easter Eggers that I raised from day-old chicks turned out to be way more flighty than the started pullets I brought in to complete my flock; as chicks they loved to climb all over my lap and sleep snuggled into the crook of my arm, but once their hormones hit they don't want any touching. They still hang around me and eagerly eat treats from my hands.

The 6 started pullets (shipped from Heritage Pullets in Montana, ~18 weeks old in June) were curious and soon became friendly just from me hanging out with them and bringing treats like crisp lettuce, yogurt & fruit bits, scrambled eggs, etc. Once their hormones hit and they started squatting for me, then actually laying, most became very easy to pick up and pet, and they gather to "supervise" (and get in the way a lot) when I'm working in their coop & run.

My mellowest, friendliest girls are the Buff Orpington, Whiting's True Blue (light blue eggs!), Plymouth Barred Rock (so fluffy & cuddly!) and Delaware. The Black Orpington and Rhode Island Red are curious and friendly but prefer not to be handled (tolerate but don't enjoy it).

The two Easter Eggers (my former chicks) run away from being touched - go figure. They're ~7 weeks younger than the others and very bottom of the pecking order, which may have a lot to do with it, but they were getting flighty before the other pullets arrived.

That said, I'm still a newby with my first flock, and have just one each of the different breeds (except 2 Eggers) so not sure how applicable my experience is. But I'm loving my pullets and enjoy the heck out of spending time with them every day!

Best of success with your chicken adventure!

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

It is true, a chicken that doesn't mind being handled is easier to deal with whenever it has some sort of issue that needs to be addressed. I have found that the friendly breeds, for the most part, tolerate the handling, not necessarily enjoy it. You will have some that will actually enjoy the personal attention, but not many. Are you hoping for a certain look, size, colour, etc? What's your climate like?

I'm in SW PA, so I get all seasons. Looking for a mix of breeds. Maybe 1-2 buff orpingtons but the rest should be smaller because of my coop/run size.

 

[My Three Chicks]

One other thing to consider...are you able to have roosters or do you want a rooster? If not, be sure you have a 'exit plan' if you end up with an accidental roo. It happens even with sexed chicks. As I personally found out with my 1st batch of 3. You and your son will become attached very quickly because they are so adorable. Just be prepared it can happen...both emotionally and with a plan on what to do with him.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

Have you thought about how your dog will react to chickens?

Yes! He is a cattle dog mix and typically have a high prey drive, so we will be careful keeping them separate at all times. But I think with training, he can be a good protector dog. He has found a nest of baby bunnies in our yard and poked them at first. When I realized what he was doing, I ran over and was able to call him off and the bunnies seemed unharmed. Still, the dog will have his own fenced in yard and the chicken will have their own too.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

One other thing to consider...are you able to have roosters or do you want a rooster? If not, be sure you have a 'exit plan' if you end up with an accidental roo. It happens even with sexed chicks. As I personally found out with my 1st batch of 3. You and your son will become attached very quickly because they are so adorable. Just be prepared it can happen...both emotionally and with a plan on what to do with him.

There's one farm nearby that will take unwanted roosters. Unfortunately, we cannot have them where we are. I've already started prepping my son for that scenario.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Sounds like you're more prepared than most people. Good job! And good luck. You know you always have this community if you ever need anything or just want to ramble!

 

[fluffycrow]

May I suggest an auto sexing breed? That way you will be able to tell male from female right away. I'm of the belief that "birds of a feather will flock together", so I always recommend going with a single breed; of course this has not been everyone's experience. A flock of Crested Cream legbards would be excellent for you

 

[PopoMyers]

In addition to all the wonderful advice and experience above, may I suggest that breeds have general characterictics and tendencies in the friendly or flighty department, if you haven't already researched that. With pullets and auto sexing breeds, you are less apt to end up with a roo. One of 6 Blue Sapphire (friendly) chicks which were sexed from the feed store was a roo. My ISA browns and Welsummers are/were friendly, The one Plymouth barred rock was flighty. Brahmas are calm. Black sex links were flighty. Have had barnyard mixes with both characteristics. Each bird has it's own personality. No cuddlers in my flock.

 

[Flixflaxnoob]

May I suggest an auto sexing breed? That way you will be able to tell male from female right away. I'm of the belief that "birds of a feather will flock together", so I always recommend going with a single breed; of course this has not been everyone's experience. A flock of Crested Cream legbards would be excellent for you

I mainly wanted a mix of breeds because I thought it would be fun to have a mix of personalities. Do you find that even with single breed flocks, their personalities can vary greatly?