I also can't have roosters where I live. I've had really good luck buying sexed pullets from my local Wilco. Their chick bins are covered with a wire top to keep customers from handling them and mixing them up. Granted, there's a 10% chance you could get a cockerel because vent sexing isn't 100% accurate, but mine have all been girls.
What purpose do you want to raise chickens... for eggs only, or to have long-lived pets?
- Sex-links are prolific layers the first couple years, after that, egg production slows way down and many birds have reproductive problems and shortened life span. So when you're getting a ton of eggs the first couple years, you have not much at all after that.
- Heritage breeds (vent sexed) are still good layers and live longer healthier lives, though laying does still taper a bit in a few years. To keep a steady supply of eggs, you could start with 3 birds and then add 3 more in a year or two. That's what I did.
- The auto-sexing breeds are awesome but they do cost more.
I've heard a lot of complaints that people have bought "sexed" chicks from
TSC or other stores with open bins that turned out to be cockerels... but I just think they were somehow mixed with straight run or other breeds. I usually call my feed store in advance to find out the chick shipment dates and show up to get my chicks on the same day or next day. Some stores will do anything to get rid of older chicks including mixing breeds or adding in straight run without disclosing and then just making them a "special" sale price.
You could order from a hatchery, they sometimes offer replacements if you accidentally get a boy. I've also heard that some local farm breeders may switch out any cockerels you get, but that won't help if you've grown attached.
There's probably going to be some unavoidable risk any way get chicks, unless sex links from a reputable source (hatchery). Buying started pullets (already laying) is a guarantee, but they will cost about $25-50 each depending on breed. DO NOT buy from craigslist! So many sellers are just trying to get rid of cockerels and will lie and many newbies can't tell a difference at a young age.
