New member with a question

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard chickens. You will soon be up to your neck in eggs - maybe time for a neighborhood egg stand. I really wish feed stores would consider what the buyer wants, instead of what they want to move out. Buff orps are beautiful birds, generally docile and sociable - the hens go broody at times - which means they hatch(fertile eggs) and raise the chicks. Of course a BO rooster has to come into play if you want purebred BO chicks.

 

[laurachickmommy]

Thank you! Well production Reds were definitely not what I wanted. Don't get me wrong, the eggs are nice, and I end up giving some away just from my other 2 girls. I'm sure when these 12 start laying I will be giving many more away to friends and neighbors. I suppose we will just go with it, and next year order some buffs from a hatchery. Wish I had done that, but I assumed my local feed store would be a good place, and I would be supporting a mom and pop business.

 

[laurachickmommy]

I agree! We wanted gentle, social birds , and a rooster and babies are always nice. Our white mutt chicken hatched out a few right when we purchased these. It was a surprise to look out in the yard and see her walking around with little yellow fuzzys following. She is not a social bird at all, and when the others are bigger, she will go into the pot. I'm starting to think I may need to see if i can sell these guys and order buffs from a hatchery and start over. Any suggestions for a good place to buy?

 

[Michael OShay]

Any suggestions for a good place to buy?

I've ordered Buff Orpingtons from four different hatcheries over the years, Murray McMurray, Cackle Hatchery, Ideal Poultry, and Dunlap Hatchery, and have been happy with the birds and service from all four of them. Dunlap Hatchery is my personal favorite, however I would suggest ordering from whichever one of the four is closest to you so that the chicks do not have to travel as far in the mail.