How many chicks to get??

[Redley]

So, I'm picking up my chicks from a local breeder, not having them mailed to me from a hatchery.
So, should I order extra just in case some don't make it...or should I order just as many as I need?

 

[NonnasBabies]

It really depends on if you have some way to get rid of the extras! I've never ordered from a hatchery and have only lost one bird and that was because the other chciks killed it.

 

[tigercreek]

I would order what you need, keeping in mind that some will be males unless they are sex links. I would not worry about losing chicks if you have raised them before. I just hate to plan on failing!! ..........stan

 

[allcrackedup]

depends on how many you are getting but say you are getting 6 i would get 10. then your flock can grow together and you can find homes for the males and any extra hens can be sold as pullets ....

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I picked up one extra; though I am buying from a feed store. I just am not 100% convinced that hatcheries do as well with sexing of chicks sent to feed stores. I mean, it's not like they have to deal with all the individual customers who complain about a mis-sexed chick.

My only concern for you going to a breeder is how accurate the breeder is at sexing. Or if they sex at all... Plus the chance of loosing a chick... I'd get an extra or two. Worst case you just end up going to a chicken swap and finding a new home for the 'extra' if you have too many for you coop.

 

[allcrackedup]

depends on how many you are getting but say you are getting 6 i would get 10. then your flock can grow together and you can find homes for the roos and any extra hens can be sold as pullets ....

 

[gumbii]

what about chicken math...???


you want 6 pullets and a roo... it's a 50/50 chance a chick will be a roo or hen... so get 24 chicks... problem solved...




but srsly... i'd get 10-12 chicks...

 

[Redley]

I would like to end up with a total of 13; 4 buff orph + 1 roo, 4 RIR, 4 barred rocks.
Do you think I should get one extra of each, getting 6 buff opph, 5 RIR, 5 BR?

 

[newchicksnducks]

Do you only have room for the exact number of chicks you want to order? If so, don't order the extras

I pick up my chicks from a hatcher about 40 minutes away to save them the stress of shipping. I've ordered 3 times from Meyer Hatchery in Ohio, and so far they have had 100% success rate in sexing my chicks!

None of them have died as chicks (as adults I've lost some due to predators

) If you have room for more, but were just ordering on the conservative side, go ahead and throw an extra one or two in, just in case your birds aren't sexed well.

 

[Redley]

I am getting less than my coop will hold, as I want to order more next year (or hatch my own), so that I will always have egg producing birds in their prime.
Just don't want to fill up the coop with extras, but don't want to be stuck with a bunch of roosters either!
Hmmmmmm.
I guess I could always give the extras away...