Looking for a bantam hen in WA

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Weeg

Weeg

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Small town in Western Washington
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Anyone have a bantam hen in the Bellingham WA area that needs a home? I am looking for a hen that still lays often enough to collect eggs, so I can get fertile eggs from her and my bantam rooster, for hatching. I'm starting an all bantam flock and am excited to incubate! Any bantams out there who need homes near me?
 
I have read your posts, and do understand what you are trying to accomplish. Would you consider buying bantam chicks from a feed store? This way, all would be same age, as they grow. No issues with introduction of different age chicks together.
Your way of getting a hen, and breeding with your rooster, does pose some situations. Bantams are not as prolific layers of eggs like,, compared to production hens that produce an egg most days. 4 of my 6 chickens are banties.
You may have to wait some time to collect enough eggs to incubate at one time. Not sure how many eggs you would get in 2 weeks? Eggs older than 2 weeks, and hatch-ability slides downhill.
Also consider that 50% can turn out less desirable cockerels. Same is true with straight run from store. Do you have a way to relocate chicks that you would not want to keep??

You are in a totally different area from me, so not sure offers such as these for me are available in your area?
cackle hatchery..PNG

The hatcheries that I checked all seem to offer bantams about the end of April.
If you would be able to check with a feed store in your area, maybe that would be an option for you to take. :idunno
Maybe the feed store would carry some bantams at that time, and you would not need to order the larger amounts??
I also recall that you intend to be a future vet. Would you be able to vent-sex the chicks to pick out your choice?? I know that wing sexing needs to be slightly older chick.
Is Craig's' List a possibility for chicks in your close vicinity??

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:highfive:
 
cavemanrich said:
I have read your posts, and do understand what you are trying to accomplish. Would you consider buying bantam chicks from a feed store? This way, all would be same age, as they grow. No issues with introduction of different age chicks together.
Your way of getting a hen, and breeding with your rooster, does pose some situations. Bantams are not as prolific layers of eggs like,, compared to production hens that produce an egg most days. 4 of my 6 chickens are banties.
You may have to wait some time to collect enough eggs to incubate at one time. Not sure how many eggs you would get in 2 weeks? Eggs older than 2 weeks, and hatch-ability slides downhill.
Also consider that 50% can turn out less desirable cockerels. Same is true with straight run from store. Do you have a way to relocate chicks that you would not want to keep??

You are in a totally different area from me, so not sure offers such as these for me are available in your area?
View attachment 2570466
The hatcheries that I checked all seem to offer bantams about the end of April.
If you would be able to check with a feed store in your area, maybe that would be an option for you to take. :idunno
Maybe the feed store would carry some bantams at that time, and you would not need to order the larger amounts??
I also recall that you intend to be a future vet. Would you be able to vent-sex the chicks to pick out your choice?? I know that wing sexing needs to be slightly older chick.
Is Craig's' List a possibility for chicks in your close vicinity??

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:highfive:
Click to expand...
Th reason I don't want to purchase from a feed store is because there all sold as straight run. I have been waiting to incubate for a while now, so it makes more sense to me to incubate if I have to get straight run anyway.
I do have a friend who owns the rooster, so me and her will be incubating together. I also know that she has been wanting to raise some chickens for meat, as to show her kids how to raise and butcher livestock. So, I think she may be interested in taking them.

Craigslist doesn't seem to have any hens, I have been looking in areas pretty far from me actually, and haven't seen anything. I'm kind of surprised. Thanks for all the info, I know it would be easier to buy chicks, but I don't love buying chicks from a huge hatchery, and would rather support a small breeder, and a few I've found in my area don't have a whole lot of options on bantams, plus their $15 and least, ask still straight run.
 
I appreciate the input @cavemanrich, I am also considering hatching out the same friends eggs who has standard sized hens, with a bantam rooster. Then, I've read that you will get a pretty random mix of bantam sized and standard sized babies. Thinking she may want to take standard sized/roosters, and I can take all the bantams and one rooster, but its still undecided yet.
 

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