Ordering from McMurray Hatchery.. question about breeds before I do so

[AccioSarah]

Hello! I am looking to place an order from Murray McMurray hatchery, but I only need/want three chicks. They are the only ones with the breeds I want.

What do most of you do with the other extra chicks? Is there a certain breed that is the best to order along with the ones I want?
I will try to find the "extra" chicks good homes, of course... but if I can't- I would like it to be a breed that will- I suppose "make a good stew".

I feel terrible ordering chicks just to eat them or sell them to be eaten. But I suppose that's the way of life...

 

[gritsar]

You don't necessarily have to order extras. Are you positive that only mcmurray has the breeds you want? Some hatcheries will allow you to order fewer than the general 25 minimum. Ideal Poultry has a min. dollar amount, not a min. chick amount. My Pet Chicken will allow you to order just a few chicks. Their min. varies depending on how close you are to a major city -- it can be anywhere from three chicks to 8 or more.
To answer your question, I would order a dual purpose breed if you know that you'll be raising them to eat. I would suggest cornish Xs (meat birds) but they have different feed requirements than layer chicks.
You can advertise the extras for free or for a nominal amount on your local craig's list, community bulletin boards, post a sign in the window of your local farmer's co-op, etc.
To solve my problem of only wanting a small number of chicks (12) to add to my existing flock, I requested my order not be shipped until June so cold temps. won't be an issue; asked that no males be included for added warmth (had to pay a few dollars shipping insurance for that) and asked that they include extra straw in the box.

 

[AccioSarah]

Quote:
Thanks so much for your input!! I have checked both Ideal and My pet Chicken (I've ordered from MPC before) and neither have the Wyandottes I am after.

I am going to be contacting a few places tomorrow to see if they want to "split" an order and then we can just order our chicks together. I'll also post on Craigslist, etc... everything you metioned, really. If push comes to shove... I'll call some local organic farms and see if they would like some birds.

 

[gritsar]

Good luck to you.

 

[FlyingFChick]

While you are on Craigslist, maybe you could look for someone in your area selling the kind of chicks that you want... Just a thought.

 

[AccioSarah]

I've checked craigslist daily... no luck.

Although I may be able to do My Pet Chicken if I can accept changing one breed... which I can probably do. And I'll have to wait a little longer. Oh well. it will probably save me a lot of time.

 

[pdsavage]

Cackle hatchery has a small chick order special and have Wyandotte in Columbian,Gold Laced,Silver Laced and White.

If you get extra pullets they should sell well any of MM's Best Egg Layers would work....