How many chicks if I get straight run?

[kimmypie]

I want to get chicks from a breeder in the spring, and both the breeders that I know of sell only straight run (which makes sense). But I cannot have roosters in my city. So, if I want to end up with 4 pullets how many chicks should I get straight run?

(And sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm new and still learning everything I can before we start on our chicken adventure next spring)

 

[The Breaker]

with straight run its 50 50 do not get straight run if I were you I would go to www.meyerhatchery.com

 

[SteveBaz]

order sexed chicks and they say 90% chance of hens only for .50 cents. try;

http://www.chickensforbackyards.com/main.sc
or
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html?aid=2008byf
or
http://www.idealpoultry.com/
or
http://www.mypetchicken.com/default.aspx?campaign=BYC200801
or
http://www.mthealthy.com/

 

[kimmypie]

I would really rather buy from a local breeder to support them. I can't get a huge shipment of birds either, I have no one to split them with.

 

[OregonChickenGal]

Straight run birds are an "as hatched" mix of males and females. Therefore, if you were to order eight straight run birds, for example, you will get between zero and eight roosters and between zero and eight hens--there is no way to tell. Generally the hatching ratio averages out to be a 50-50 mix, but you are more likely to hit the average if you have ordered large numbers.

 

[EMAW]

Meyer Hatchery will ship as few as 3 chickens.

 

[gryeyes]

Well, a breeder's straight run male/female straight run might be more even than a feed store straight run lot, as feed store stock gets picked over by some folks who can guess really good at chick sex, leaving the males behind. That skews the ratio.

But I've purchased four ducklings at a feed store and ended up with all drakes. Another time, bought two and got a pair. Bought two bantam chicks, got two cockerels, but the next try of two got two pullets.

Now the only straight run chicks I get are those I hatch myself (or the hens hatch).

 

[The Breaker]

at www.chickensforbackyards.com you can get as few as 3.

 

[corgiscatsandchickens]

Quote:
X2.
Remember, its 50/50 as far as the big picture goes, but you might get an unwelcome surprise. Two cases in point: years ago my grandpa got six RIR eggs to set under one of our hens. You would think half boys half girls, right? Six roos! My batch of BRs that I have now came sexed from a feed store. I hand picked them myself. All supposed to be girls--that's how we wound up with a rooster named Madge!

If you can't have a rooster, get sexed chicks, and have someone on standby ready to take any roos that sneak through.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Odds are simply odds. There are no guarantees with straight run. I once got 7 pullets and 0 roosters straight run. Often when I incubate eggs, I get about 2/3 one way or the other, sometimes more male and sometimes more female.

The odds of you getting four or more females is 50-50 if you get 7 chicks. Getting more increases you odds of getting four or more. But remember I once got 7 out of 7. There is less than a 1% chance of that happening.

Sorry. There is no easy sure answer unless you can get older chicks so they can be sexed.