I am ordering a new flock soon..need advice about something?

[mmtillman]

Know very little about chickens...first flock 2 years ago was given to us , and on a whim we took them. Of course then we begin to fall in love with chickens ...
Then to our horror ...a fox and/or coon wiped out our entire flock last July. So hubby built a new 8x8x7 barn style coop for our next flock that we plan to start this spring....After looking at what McMurrary had to offer I am confused....I want about 12-15 hens and about 2 roosters this time. So if I order from them I need to specify that I want hens, right?? I can do that ...But here is my next problem....Due to the cost...we might just have to go to our local MFA or Atwoods to see about their 'chick day' and what they have to offer.
If we go that route...will they be able to tell the difference if I only ask for 2 roosters?? Or will I just get a mix....??
I guess I will call around tomorrrow and find out ...but sorta wanted to get some input from more seasoned chicken people about this .....I want to learn as much as we can before we get our new additions !!!! Any advice is welcome! I am getting excited about the prospect of getting our chicks !!! Cant Wait!!!!

 

[enola]

Our local TSC gets several breeds of chicks every spring.

Rhode Island Reds (dual purpose) come in sexed or straight run

Leg Horns (for eggs) come in only pullets

Easter Eggers (for eggs) straight run only

White Rocks (for meat) cockerels

and they claim they get Dominiques (but they have single combs every year

) Straight run only

..... and they get mixed breed ducklings, which usually end up stinking up the whole store because they allow them to wallow their water all over the pen/encosure

I have gotten some nice RIR from them, they are production strain of course, not show quality. But, they sure did produce the eggs for us !

Buying from a feed or supply store is a good way to get a small flock started, you don't have to buy a minimum number of 25

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Is MFA or atwoods a farm supply store? The farm supply store here does not sell sexed chicks, your might not. if you want sexed chicks you need a hatchery McMurry or Ideal (Ideal has more choices) unless you find someone that can sex chicks. alos you might want to get 3 roosters they general don't fight as much (not always) you also need to know if you want egg layers,meaties or dual porpose or a mix of all

 

[william9792]

mc murry will only ship 25 chicks at a time , if you only want to get about 12 to 15 you should get somebody close to you , like a breeder, go to craigs list,and post what kind you want and that will be better i think, but if you want to start with chicks you always have 8 weeks of them being inside before they go outside because of the temps outside. i will be having chicks hatch just about anytime that you may want them, but i live in NC. hope this helps William

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Ideal will ship less than 25, I think the total price has to be $25 (chek on that)

 

[rufus]

Why don't you find someone to split and order with you? Just order pullets, and they probably will include some roosters as packing peanuts.

Rufus

 

[gritsar]

IMO, a mail order hatchery is the way to go vs. a farm store, TSC, etc. Better selection for starters. Even though I love Atwoods, just like other farm stores their employees typically know next to nothing about caring for baby chicks. Proper care is critical in the first few days and believe me, the chicks I've seen at the store aren't getting it. A chick that's had an really tough start could continue to have problems on down the line.
Plus, on more than one occasion I've seen customers pick up a chick from one bin, say one marked "straight run", play with it for a few minutes and then put it in one of the other bins; like the sexed pullets bin.
Ideal has a min. dollar amount, not chick amount. If you wait until the weather is good and warm you can order pullets only and ask that "packing peanuts" (usually baby roos) not be included. You'll have to pay a small shipping insurance charge.
Also, waiting until things warm up in the spring will give you more options on where you brood the chicks. Mine were brooded in an outbuilding in April.

 

[CountryMom]

You could do two things. You could order your pick of what you want like from Ideal and allow them to pack it with extra males for warmth. There is a small order fee, but it really isn't too high overall. Then when the order comes in with the extra males, put them on freecycle and they will go. Mine had a waiting list when I ordered less than 25 and got extras for warmth (sometimes called packing peanuts.)

Or you could order your pick plus extra pullets to raise. Then either sell them as chicks or sell them as Point of Lay hens.

Some feed stores have sexed chicks, but some do not. You may end up with more roosters than you need and less pullets than you originally wanted.

 

[cmom]

A guy I work with bought several chicks from TSC. They were supposed to be all pullets, but turned out to be all Roo's, every one of them. I get my chicks from Ideal. Out of 21 birds so far ordered from them only one turned out to be a Roo. I specified pullets. I would think the other hatcheries work the same. They charged a little extra but I didn't care. I don't think you can get a guarantee at most places. Most hatcheries are 90/95% guaranteed. My local feed store has sexed and straight run chicks. My first 6 chicks came from the feed store as sexed pullets and they were. Later I found out they came from Ideal.

 

[thedeacon]

My farm store allows you to order exactly what you want. (IF AVAILABLE) They then include your order with the next one they place with their provider. Place your order early as the farm store does limit their orders.