How Many Chicks to Buy / Question

[cook_kaka_ook]

As a first timer too, I started with 19 eggs straight run and successfully hatched thirteen. I ended with 7 roos and 6 pullets. I just kept 1 roo for my six hens. Goodluck!

 

[smith2]

When I started out, I did exactly like you are suggesting, John. I ordered 10 sexed pullets and 2 roos for every breed I wanted. The only problems I ran into were not enough room for all the roos, they didn't get along together very well, and I found I needed separate pens to keep the breeds separate for various reasons. So, I set up temporary partitions that are connected via doorways so when I want to mix them I do, and when I don't I shut the doors. Good luck. Otherwise, I loved having several breeds.

 

[bigoakhunter]

I had thought the losses would be bigger than they were when ordering from hacthery. I wanted 8 hens, ordered 12 day old chicks and 11 lived. Not sure if this is typical. Go big!

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
Thanks for the feedback.

I'm curious how long you kept the second roo of each breed before deciding which of the two you wanted to keep. It's great to hear from someone who did what it is that I'm attempting to do, specifically begin with a number of breeds, partition them separately withing the coop, order a few more roos and pullets of each, and cull out the ones you ultimately decide you don't want. My thoughts are to err on the side of conservatism and to order 3 roos and a dozen pullets of each of the six breeds, and to eventually cull them back to one roo and 9 pullets of each, for a total of 60 birds. If I'm going to build a coop with the intentions of holding 60 mature chickens, 10 of each breed in 6 separate pens, how large would you suggest making each pen, and how large should I make the actual coop?

Thanks for the advice!


John

 

[JenEric Farms]

Also, you may want to consider an all roo pen. You can keep one extra of each breed in there. They won't fight if they don't have hen access and then, if something happens to your main roo you have a back up.

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
My primary goal is to sell eating eggs locally (farrmers markets, mostly). That being said though, I'm also interested in ultimately breeding my own birds to produce future generations of my own chickens, which is why I want to start with the best stock I can get and to cull out anything that doesn't meet the standard for the breed, including the occasional bad disposition.

I'm a little confused by your response though; am I to assume that any and all chicks coming from a hatchery are inferior to those coming from a breeder? That's a pretty huge (and potentially controversial) statement. One would assume there are terrific hatcheries who actually produce top quality chicks, as well as the occasional breeder who produces inferior stock, no?


John

 

[AngieChick]

Quote:
Thanks for the feedback.

I'm curious how long you kept the second roo of each breed before deciding which of the two you wanted to keep. It's great to hear from someone who did what it is that I'm attempting to do, specifically begin with a number of breeds, partition them separately withing the coop, order a few more roos and pullets of each, and cull out the ones you ultimately decide you don't want. My thoughts are to err on the side of conservatism and to order 3 roos and a dozen pullets of each of the six breeds, and to eventually cull them back to one roo and 9 pullets of each, for a total of 60 birds. If I'm going to build a coop with the intentions of holding 60 mature chickens, 10 of each breed in 6 separate pens, how large would you suggest making each pen, and how large should I make the actual coop?

Thanks for the advice!


John

Aaah, now I understand what you are getting at. It sounds like a good plan, but to echo Katy, if you are raising them for breeding purposes you will not want to go with hatchery birds to start your breeding program. If you are just raising layers & meat, then they are fine for that.

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
I never considered that. What an intriguing idea. Kinda like a rowdy frat house.

Fighting aside, I can't help but ask just how much additional noise a pen of sexually-frustrated roosters might cause . . .


John

 

[Diavolicchio]

Quote:
Thanks for the feedback.

I'm curious how long you kept the second roo of each breed before deciding which of the two you wanted to keep. It's great to hear from someone who did what it is that I'm attempting to do, specifically begin with a number of breeds, partition them separately withing the coop, order a few more roos and pullets of each, and cull out the ones you ultimately decide you don't want. My thoughts are to err on the side of conservatism and to order 3 roos and a dozen pullets of each of the six breeds, and to eventually cull them back to one roo and 9 pullets of each, for a total of 60 birds. If I'm going to build a coop with the intentions of holding 60 mature chickens, 10 of each breed in 6 separate pens, how large would you suggest making each pen, and how large should I make the actual coop?

Thanks for the advice!


John

Aaah, now I understand what you are getting at. It sounds like a good plan, but to echo Katy, if you are raising them for breeding purposes you will not want to go with hatchery birds to start your breeding program. If you are just raising layers & meat, then they are fine for that.

This is great information to get. I really appreciate it.

Am I right in assuming that if I go to breeders rather than to hatcheries that my options are likely to be limited to eggs (probably giving me way more roosters than I could possibly want) rather than day old chicks that have been sexed?


John

 

[Katy]

Quote:
My primary goal is to sell eating eggs locally (farrmers markets, mostly). That being said though, I'm also interested in ultimately breeding my own birds to produce future generations of my own chickens, which is why I want to start with the best stock I can get and to cull out anything that doesn't meet the standard for the breed, including the occasional bad disposition.

I'm a little confused by your response though; am I to assume that any and all chicks coming from a hatchery are inferior to those coming from a breeder? That's a pretty huge (and potentially controversial) statement. One would assume there are terrific hatcheries who actually produce top quality chicks, as well as the occasional breeder who produces inferior stock, no?


John

Yes they are most often inferior to what you will get from a breeder. Hatcheries hatch for quantity and not quality. They very rarely come close to the standard for the breed. If you are planning on just hatching your own birds they'll probably be fine, but if you eventually want to sell hatching eggs for whatever breeds you chose, you would be better off to get your start with eggs, chicks or adult birds from breeders. I can only think of 2 hatcheries that seem to even come close to having birds that may be good of examples of the breeds....Superior Farms & Sandhill Preservation. This is a subject that has been discussed at length on here.