How do I know what breed is right for us?

[browneyedgirl77]

Quote:

That is too funny. My kids try to dress up our dogs, I can only imagine what they would do to the poor chickens

How do you post a want to buy ad? I posted in the florida section and mentioned I was looking for a local breeder. So far, I haven't heard anything. I definitely want to stick with a breeder. I learned that they are more selective with the breeding

I found an article on Mother Earth News that has:
An online directory to help you search for the hatcheries nearest you with the breeds you want.
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/happy-homesteader/better-way-to-pick-chicken-breeds-zb0z10zgri.aspx#ixzz1LFHHA6CN
Hope this helps!

Hey, Thank you. I have been doing some research too. I found a few breeders on Craigslist. I sent one a message, and I am still waiting to hear back from them. My kids are driving me crazy

They keep asking me if they can get the baby chicks yet. They ask me from the minute they wake up till the minute they go to sleep. This has been going on for a week now...lol! You know what, I can't be too upset. They ask me to read about raising chickens. They like doing research with me. I am so glad they took an interest.

I have a question, how old should the chicks be when we get them. I found a few places online that are offering day old chicks. Is that normal?

 

[Cindilou]

That's normal. If you get sex-linked day-old chickens then you know you have all females (98% of the time there may be one that was slipped in there...) but generally with sex links it is completely obvious as to the sex upon hatch. With day olds there is more care as in having a brooder but down here you don't need to worry too much about warmth since it is May already and we are clearly hitting 90s or near it every day. We kept our wee ones in the garage until the coop/run was finished and moved them out there. Also we kept some that we got as week old chicks on the back porch for a while. There is a lot of info on keeping baby chicks on the forums.
Food, water, attention, change the bedding regularly, move to bigger housing, then wait for eggs.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
I found an article on Mother Earth News that has:
An online directory to help you search for the hatcheries nearest you with the breeds you want.
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/happy-homesteader/better-way-to-pick-chicken-breeds-zb0z10zgri.aspx#ixzz1LFHHA6CN
Hope this helps!

Hey, Thank you. I have been doing some research too. I found a few breeders on Craigslist. I sent one a message, and I am still waiting to hear back from them. My kids are driving me crazy

They keep asking me if they can get the baby chicks yet. They ask me from the minute they wake up till the minute they go to sleep. This has been going on for a week now...lol! You know what, I can't be too upset. They ask me to read about raising chickens. They like doing research with me. I am so glad they took an interest.

I have a question, how old should the chicks be when we get them. I found a few places online that are offering day old chicks. Is that normal?

Oh good. I hope you hear from them soon with some good news.
Lol on the kids driving you batty. That is great that they want to do research with you. If they are still at it, then I'm sure that this won't be just a passing fancy of theirs. It is wonderful that they want to learn too. Children usually have such short attention spans.
Chickens are such a good hobby. Everyone can relate to wanting a chicken, I think. Brings up thoughts of a simpler time when the family was the center of everyones lives.

It does not matter what age the chicks are when you get them. Hatcheries take them & stuff them in a box to mail to people as soon as they hatch. Chickens are very durable that way. They can survive a few days without sustenance right out of the egg, but not too long. They are born & know how to do pretty much everything with no help from a mother, just dip their beaks in water so they know where to find it.
Interesting articles:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/Raising-Chicks.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/city.../are-you-ready-for-chickens-chickens-101.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/Baby-Chickens-From-Poultry-Hatchery.aspx

 

[Minniechickmama]

It will be most fun for your kids to raise them from day olds. They are the cutest during the first week, after that, the uglies set in.

Here is what I would get if I could only get 6-10:
Red Sex-link
Black Sex-link
Silver Laced Wyandotte or Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
Blue Orpington
Barred Rock
Delaware or Light Sussex
Dark Cornish (they are sweet birds if handled, even though they have that constant stink eye about them),
Black Australorp
Easter Egger
Black or Buff Minorca (just so you can have some white eggs)

This way you could have all different colored chickens and different colored eggs too. I would also add to that list either a Marans or Welsummer to get the chocolate eggers covered. Not to be mistaken with chocolate covered eggs.

i do crack myself up!

 

[browneyedgirl77]

Quote:
Thank you for all your help. I totally forgot that it is getting hot enough to not worry so much about a brooder.

I know that getting baby chicks, and adult chickens for that matter, is better from breeders. I know breeders are more selective about breeding and keeping positive traits going. I'm wondering, would starting with a day old chick have any more of an effect on its personality?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Hey you! Shouldn't you be going to bed?

The sooner a chick sees you out of the egg, the more likely it'll think you're mommy, or so I have read.

 

[browneyedgirl77]

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I love chocolate covered eggs.... Cadbury makes some really yummy ones...LOL.

Now the hard part is going to be finding all these breeds. Finding local breeders by me isn't very easy

 

[browneyedgirl77]

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I wish I could sleep. I have been way stressed lately. BYC is keeping me entertained and occupied!... Hey wait, you're awake too...LOL

 

[Celtic Chick]

Kiddos want their chickies, hey?

Lights out for me before hubby wakes up & sees I'm still in front of this machine.......again!

 

[browneyedgirl77]

Absolutely. They are going crazy for them. I am going to try and head to bed myself. I really hope I fall asleep though, because if I see one more infomercial and my hubby sees one more UPS truck, I think i will be disowned