I need a practical chickens!

[vortec]

Quote:
When i think of yellow chicks, I think of Buff orpingtons. They are great back yard chickens, and full of personality. I have four total and love them. They will let you pick them up and they expect you to groom them, and will easily go to sleep in your arms if you pet them. They are more starved for affection then my cats, and they will follow you around and get jealous if you love on another chick. If you get buff orps, you will not be sorry if they are anything like mine. On BYC, I've heard nothing but the same. Good luck, and hope I helped.

vortec

 

[chick'n'run]

once you start ( i haven't) but once you get them you'll love any colour of chick! yellow is just what the general public stereotypes as a "chick" and those are usually just production breeds. I say be creative and try a different colour. Red is nice, so is partridge!

 

[Momma_Cluck]

I really recommend going to a few on-line Hatcheries to see all the different breeds.... several list which ones are best as pets, lay best eggs etc...

Silkies and Cochins are really good bets.....
The more time you spend holding them and pampering them, the tamer and more spoiled they are as adults....

Some will get less so when they start laying eggs-- but are usually still real tame... most of mine are, and I have at least 12 different breeds!!!

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

My vote is for Buff Orpingtons too; they're the perfect beginner chicken. But be sure to check out http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html to find a breed that fits your situation best.

 

[call ducks]

of corse ther's all ways the sex-link the are a nice bird.

 

[the_great_snag]

Another great way to get chicks cheep (I love that little play on words) is to go in with a friend on a larger order from a mail order hatchery.

Just be certain you make sure you get pullets whatever you do.

BTW... buff orps are AWESOME, but they are more brownish gold than the bright yellow of production chicks.

Either way I would be more concerned more with how they look as adults. They only stay tiny and fuzzy for a very short time.

 

[kb010]

I definitely agree on the suggestion of buff orps. I have 14 two week old babies right now. They were yellow when they were really little, but are starting to feather in a beautiful tannish-blonde. so far they have been great. I chose them bc I wanted dual purpose, friendly, aesthetically pleasing chickens. just my two cents. =] good luck!!

 

[rhythmicgoldfish]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

Buying the chicks IS the cheap part of having chickens. You should talk to your friends that have the chickens to find out how much it's going to cost to set-up a brooder (again you can use a FREE cardboard box) but still need to buy the heat lamp, fixture, feeder, waterer, bedding you'll be changing once a week or so. Chick starter (crumbles) they don't seem to eat much in the beginning but now that mine are 8 wks old, they went through a 25 lb bag in two weeks.

Then you've got the cost of building a little coop and run that is preditor proof along with bedding and big chick feeder and waterer.

The setup costs are a little spendy, it does take time and commitment, but well worth it if you have both.

Good luck

first of all i agree that buff Orphingtons are the best choice for what you want but secondly sweet cheeks their is a big difference between feeding three chickens and feeding ... not sure how many you have but i am going to throw 12 out as a number ... a dozen chickens can plow through a bag of feed​

 

[Tala]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

Buying the chicks IS the cheap part of having chickens. You should talk to your friends that have the chickens to find out how much it's going to cost to set-up a brooder (again you can use a FREE cardboard box) but still need to buy the heat lamp, fixture, feeder, waterer, bedding you'll be changing once a week or so. Chick starter (crumbles) they don't seem to eat much in the beginning but now that mine are 8 wks old, they went through a 25 lb bag in two weeks.

Then you've got the cost of building a little coop and run that is preditor proof along with bedding and big chick feeder and waterer.

The setup costs are a little spendy, it does take time and commitment, but well worth it if you have both.

Good luck

Yeah, what they said. Chicks were under $2 each, other stuff totaled over $50 for their booder setup and starter stuff, and I have yet to build their coop/tractor.

Most of this stuff will last a while, like their feed and water pans, and the lamp can be reused another year, etc. but it costs initially.​

 

[New adventure]

Since you are in Colo Springs, there is both a Tractor Supply and Big R Store there. Also look on craigslist, there is always someone with chicks. I think this Sunday, the 19th, there's a chicken/animal swap at the Sweeneys Feed store in Pueblo West. You might call them, 719-547-1232. Good luck!