How old do the hatcheries ship chicks?

[IggiMom]

I have these chicks from Cackle and they just look really really big. They came a couple days after the chicks I hatched out for myself, but still...they just seem so much bigger.

The chicks I got from them are Golden Comets and a few EE's, and my chicks are RIR's and one mutt.

I just wondered if perhaps they ship them at a couple days old, or when they are just hatched.

Everybody is getting along well, and there isn't a HUGE size difference, but still, I wondered.

These chicks from Cackle seemed big right when I got them, I noticed it right away.

I especially like two of the EE's, who are a soft gray. I rather expect that they will stay gray.

Catherine

 

[catdaddy66]

As I understand it the chicks have to be shipped no later than 24 hours old so that they get delivered no later than 72 hours old. After that they die quickly of thirst and hunger. There are stories of boxes arriving older than 3 days w/ the expected result. Larger chicks may be genetic or nutrion examples

 

[IggiMom]

Hmm. Well, thank you.

And another thing. These are the happiest sounding chicks I have ever had, although I am not sure who is making all the happy noises.

I love the noise of chicks anyway, but these are twittering and chirping like a bunch of birds or crickets or something.

Catherine

 

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:
I noticed with my latest order that my Leghorns were significantly larger than my Cochins and other 'large' breeds I ordered. I guess it has nothing to do with the final size of the chickens, but only with the size of the egg. Large eggs = big chicks...

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
I noticed with my latest order that my Leghorns were significantly larger than my Cochins and other 'large' breeds I ordered. I guess it has nothing to do with the final size of the chickens, but only with the size of the egg. Large eggs = big chicks...

Well, that's interestng. And I should have thought of it. It seems so obvious when you say it--big egg=big chick.

They must have used big eggs then, because these are BIG chicks. Big happy chicks. And in spite of the size difference, I am not seeing anyone picking on anyone else. Of course I do have them under a red light.

I enjoy having them right in here when they are little. Then I can keep an eye on them. Of course the weather is so gosh awful here these days that they would have to be inside anyway.

Catherine

 

[prov31gal]

well, goood, im glad you got great big happy healthy chickies.......what more could you want.......aside from them accidentally shipping you a cackle hatchey suprise along with your order for free!

 

[IggiMom]

No surprises--but they are nice big chickies, except for one little Pasty Butt. And she is going to get better.

They are mostly Golden Comets, with a few EEs. I was especially pleased with two the the EE's that are a pretty soft gray.

I think I will order some more for May 1. I am spacing out baby chicks to try to have eggs all year, and not have everybody take a break to molt all at the same time.

Catherine

 

[Bullwinkle]

For some reason I thought golden comets were the same as Red sex links. The Golden Comet pictures at Cackle look like red sex links (or red stars), but I see Cackle sells Red Sex links separte.

So what are the two parent breeds that are crossed to give a golden comet? I love my Red Sex-links: very calm, friendly, and lay lots of eggs (even during the winter when my EE's and many other breeds stopped laying).

 

[IggiMom]

I thought they were the same, too. I guess I don't know what the cross is. Hmmm.

This is the first time I have had them. Someone on the egg selling thread recommended them as good layers even throughout winter.

So I will see next winter!

Catherine