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How many babies to end up with at least 2 hens?

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by barbieszoo, Sep 11, 2010.

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  1. Sep 11, 2010 #1
    barbieszoo

    barbieszoo Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Stillwater, OK
    Ok, silly question probably. I am wanting to end up with 2 silkie hens. I think I've decided I want to start with baby chicks so my kids and I can hand-raise them to be extra tame. If I have extras I think I can find homes for them either by giving them to friends who have chickens, or selling them at a local auction. I am trying to minimize that though, and really can only keep 2 girls. How many babies minimum would you advise me to get in order to be almost certain to end up with two girls? ( Probabilities were never my strong suit in math!) [​IMG]
    Thanks! Kristy
     
  3. Sep 11, 2010 #2
    hallerlake

    hallerlake Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Supposedly, to get two girls, you'd need four straight run chicks, but it doesn't always work that way. I'd get a couple extra just in case. If you're buying sexed chicks, I'd buy three, just in case, because sexing is only 90% accurate.




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  5. Sep 11, 2010 #3
    silkieroo

    silkieroo Chillin' With My Peeps

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  7. Sep 13, 2010 #4
    barbieszoo

    barbieszoo Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Stillwater, OK
    Thanks! Yes, I tried mypetchicken.com but they are sold out of the sexed ones for 2010 now. Only mixed color, straight-run silkies are available. I'd want all white girls, so in order to get those from there, I'll have to wait until spring. Thanks again for the tips.
     
  9. Sep 13, 2010 #5
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Chicken Obsessed

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    If you order 3 chicks, you have a 50% chance of getting at least 2 pullets.

    1 out of 8 = All males
    3 out of 8 = 2 males 1 female
    3 out 0f 8 = 2 females 1 male
    1 out of 8 = All females

    If you order 4 chicks, you have almost 70% chance of getting at least 2 females. It will happen 11 out of 16 times.

    1 of 16 = All males
    4 of 16 = 3 males 1 female
    6 of 16 = 2 males 2 females
    4 of 16 = 1 male 3 females
    1 of 16 = All Females

    Some people will tell you that they stack roosters in the straight run orders. I have received 7 females in an order of 6 straight run. Even the packing peanut was a female. I will not tell you that all hatcheries are ethical any more than I'll tell you that all posters on this site are ethical. I will tell you I believe most hatcheries and most posters on this site are ethical. An ethical hatchery will select straight run chicks before they are sexed.

    Hope this helps.
     

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