I've decided to order my chicks online from My Pet Chicken because the ones at our local feed store did not look good. They all looked kind of sickly and many had pasty butt. I do not want to start off with sick chickens. I also contacted the owner of the store to tell him the chicks looked unhealthy and he needed to go see them personally to see if something was wrong. So, here is my list of chicks: ~2 silkie bantams. One buff, one surprise. ~1 buff orpington ~1 delaware ~1 New Hamshire Red ~1 Barred Rock How does this sound? They will (or are suppose to be) all pullets. Once feathered and ready to go out, they will be in a "tractor" style coop. It is approximently 5' tall, 9' long, and 4' wide. (approximent measurements). Those measurements include the run. They will be "boarded" out where I board my horses, and will be allowed to hang out in a baby play pen while I'm there, about 2 hours per day, longer on the weekends. (They can't be free range because of the coyotes) Many thanks from a chicken newbie!
Whether the list looks good depends on what you what out of your chicken experience. Do you just want eggs? Pets? Show birds? You've listed quite a variety with no common theme evident, and maybe that is your objective. If so, go for it and enjoy. If you want eggs, you need might want to consider some more layer types. It's a wide open territory. Figure out what you want, research the breeds that will provide that and go for it. It's a lot of fun. Welcome to the hobby. UGCM
I apologize for not being clear. They will be pets. A few eggs would be nice but for the most part they will be my buddies, lol!
Well, I ordered the chicks! Hatch date is June 21st for all of them. Should get them 22nd or 23rd is all goes as planned. I didn't even know it was possible to order live chicks online until yesterday! I picked My Pet Chicken because they ship with heating pads instead of roo "packing peanuts".
It's a great list. Our BR and BO are the tamest of all, sitting on our laps if we sit down around them. I would love to get a couple of silkies but I wasn't sure they would mix with my six large layers. I'll see how yours do. I find the whole "packing peanut" concept disgusting. I wonder what can be done about it? Best of luck with your new flock!
When I ordered mine (should be here tomorrow) I tried to find the best temperament available, and with some decent layers. the Buff orpington and the Delaware are both supposed to be very friendly (I have a 2 year old, I need the best temperament i can get ) I ordered; 6 Easter eggers (one being a roo) 2 Delawares and 2 Buff Orpingtons From what I read on here, EE's are kinda seasonal layers, they slow down in the winter but all 3 breeds are friendly from what I read again hehe good luck with your flock, and post us some pictures
My 3 EE's have been really quiet, well mannered chicks. One is a darling...she loves to be held and every time I open the door to their hutch, she is right there wanting me to hold her close so she can snuggle like one of my kittens. My BO's never would accept the 11 one week younger chicks so I had to put them in their own hutch. Hoping when I get ready to put them all together (when the coop/run is finished) it goes well.
