How many chicks do I order?

[davidr]

Since any roosters they send will be "free" I expect to be giving them away.

Thanx,

David

 

[TXmom]

You can also ask Ideal to mark the "extras" that they put in for warmth. That way you know which ones to get rid of immediately. I took most of my extras to the local feed store the day I received them, and a customer took them all right away.

This is my first time to have chickens, and so far all of my chicks that I ordered are happy and healthy. I've only had one death, and it was one of the extras.

 

[davidr]

I called Ideal and they said they will mark the males for me.

Thanx for the tip.

David

 

[scrambledmess]

Thanks for asking this question and thanks to all those who responded. I will be calling Ideal next week and wasn't sure how things worked. Thanks again!

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
That sounds good to me. I made the mistake of only ordering 6 straight run chicks locally and 3 ended up dying leaving me with only 1 pullet and 2 roos.

When I ordered more chicks later I ordered 25 straight run again (I was only planning on keeping half anyway) and while the buckeyes were half and half, the GLWs (of which I would have liked a roo) were all pullets.

So order more than you want, give away/sell the rest or..um..eat 'em.

 

[davidr]

Okay,

My chicks arrived, and all 13 are alive, and some roosters. .

The packing slip says the extra males were marked. but I can't see any difference.

Has anybody had Ideal mark the males, and what did they do?

Ordered these plus 10 assorted.
2) Black Jersey Giants
1) Black Shamo

The assortment. This was handwritten on the packling slip. Can anybody decipher the last two?
2) Brown Leghorn
2) Buff Orph
2) Partridge Cochin
2) Black S K
2) Gold S L

Thanx,

David

 

[CityClucks]

Ideal marked my males with a red marker on their little peep heads. I gave them all away today.

 

[katrinag]

Did you get it figured out?

 

[kycklingmamma]

David,

I just received my delivery from Ideal this past Tuesday, and all my males were marked on the top of there heads, and I now that if it is not visible they will also mark them under their chin/beak.
I called a few of our feed stores in the area and all of them offered to take our " pocorn males" so I simply dropped them off a few days later. We kept one to see what breed it is, too curious...
As far as the breeds you got, I am pretty sure Gold SL means Gold Sex Link. I have been trying to figure out what Black SK means but no luck.

Good luck and enjoy your new babies, I know we are.
Petra

 

[davidr]

None of the chicks ahve any marks.

But I think we figured this out.

7 are black
2 have chipmunk stripes
2 yellow
2 slightly darker yellow

The remaining 6 are all the same reddish brown color so I'm thinking these must be the roosters,

Does this sound right, based on the list of chicks they sent me.
2) Black Jersey Giants
1) Black Shamo
2) Brown Leghorn
2) Buff Orph
2) Partridge Cochin
2) Black S K
2) Gold S L

Anybody that has received "marked" roosters from Ideal what color are yours?

Thanx, I really appreciate all the help. ,

David