Ordering Spring Chicks…Have Questions!

[BlueDawnRising]

Just glancing at their About Us page it sounds like they take biosecurity pretty seriously, so that's a good sign. Not sure if there's reviews available from others who've bought from them before but that'd be something else I'd want to check on.

Thank you for looking! I felt the same but am glad to hear you agree. I will look for reviews. Thanks!!

 

[NatJ]

2.) I would like to try to put the day olds under a broody. How do you make sure you have a proper broody at the exact time you bring home your chicks?

If a hen goes broody, you can give her fake eggs to sit on. After a week or so, if she is still acting nicely broody, order the chicks to arrive in about two weeks (so the chicks arrive when she has been sitting for three weeks, plus or minus a few days depending on what day of the week she started.)

Obviously that only works if the hatchery has the right chicks available to order at the right time.

If you are trying to place an order months in advance, I would probably just plan on brooding them yourself. If a hen happens to go broody about the right time, you could change plans and have her raise the chicks. If a hen goes broody a little bit too early, give her fake eggs and see what happens: some hens will sit for 4 or 5 weeks before they give up, so you might get lucky. If a hen starts sitting more than about 5 weeks before the chicks would arrive, I would try to break the broodiness, because she will probably not still be sitting by the time the chicks arrive.

 

[BlueDawnRising]

If a hen goes broody, you can give her fake eggs to sit on. After a week or so, if she is still acting nicely broody, order the chicks to arrive in about two weeks (so the chicks arrive when she has been sitting for three weeks, plus or minus a few days depending on what day of the week she started.)

Obviously that only works if the hatchery has the right chicks available to order at the right time.

If you are trying to place an order months in advance. I would probably just plan on brooding them yourself. If a hen happens to go broody about the right time, you could change plans and have her raise the chicks. If a hen goes broody a little bit too early, give her fake eggs and see what happens: some hens will sit for 4 or 5 weeks before they give up, so you might get lucky. If a hen starts sitting more than about 5 weeks before the chicks would arrive, I would try to break the broodiness, because she will probably not still be sitting by the time the chicks arrive.

Thanks! This sounds like a solid plan. I’m thinking about ordering all day old now. Ugh…I’m just afraid I will get a bunch of roosters and don’t have a plan for them. Maybe being raised either under a broody or with us around all the time, they will be good spirited!

 

[hammyanne]

When my polish unexpectedly went broody for a second time this fall with no sign of breaking well after 21 days, I ended up slipping her a few chicks that thankfully I was still able to find at tractor supply. It seems especially challenging to schedule the exact ship date of chicks in the spring time, so I might approach it the reverse way if you’re set on having a broody raise chicks for you—wait til your hen’s been reliably broody for a week or two and then order chicks for the following week?

 

[Folly's place]

The problem with that plan is that you'll never be able to get exactly the birds you want ordering late!
Mary

 

[BlueDawnRising]

When my polish unexpectedly went broody for a second time this fall with no sign of breaking well after 21 days, I ended up slipping her a few chicks that thankfully I was still able to find at tractor supply. It seems especially challenging to schedule the exact ship date of chicks in the spring time, so I might approach it the reverse way if you’re set on having a broody raise chicks for you—wait til your hen’s been reliably broody for a week or two and then order chicks for the following week?

I live close enough to the hatchery that I might be able to just ask for “leftovers” of the breeds I want when I have a broody. I might email abs ask if that is possible. I know they grow out some so maybe that would work. Lots to think about!

 

[BlueDawnRising]

The problem with that plan is that you'll never be able to get exactly the birds you want ordering late!
Mary

This is a concern!

 

[NatJ]

I think it may come down to which is more important to you: having the specific breeds of chicks you want (order early, may not have a broody at the right time) or trying harder to have a broody raise the chicks (wait until a hen goes broody, buy chicks at the correct time, choosing among the breeds that happen to be available.)

 

[Rillowen]

So, I wanted 3 chickens and ended up with 19 (you all understand this, right?!). They are now 9 and 11 months old and laying well. They are a mixed flock from Hoovers Hatchery with Welsummers, Easter Eggers, Crested Cream Legbars, Buff and Lavender Orpingtons and 2 that I don’t know the breed. I currently have no roosters. This is my first go with chickens and so far I am loving it!

I found a hatchery 2 hours from me that I can pick up from, so whatever I add, won’t have to be shipped. They have pure lines, something I learned Hoover’s doesn’t really have, and I am excited to order for spring. I am considering ordering 55 Flowery and Welsummers as day old chicks. They offer them sexed. I am also wanting to add some Marans and Olive Eggers which they only offer straight run as day old chicks, understandably. I can order started pullets of these though, which brings me to my questions:

1.) I can order day olds, pick them up and then order started pullets of the same age, picking them up weeks later, ensuring I get pullets. If I do this, can they be put together when I bring the pullets home or do they need to be separated?

2.) I would like to try to put the day olds under a broody. How do you make sure you have a proper broody at the exact time you bring home your chicks? My Buffs seem to be broody often, sometimes difficult to break, so I feel like it might work. I have a brooder as a back up if it doesn’t work. Also, will it make it harder to integrate the started pullets when I bring them in, weeks later?

3.) Do I quarantine day olds? I would separate the broody into her own space but it would still be in the coop, not completely separate from my existing flock. If so, I realize they would have to go in the brooder instead.

4.) I assume I have to quarantine the started pullets, even though they are coming from a hatchery, right?

I am thinking to order for pick up in April for the day olds. The pullets would be the same age, just remain at the hatchery for 5ish weeks. I would appreciate thoughts/advice/cautions on any of the above! Thank you for reading!

You got lots of good advice here. I will add that a broody can be kept broody for a bit by putting fake eggs (Although she might realize it) OR unfertalized eggs (which you have) under her. Then when the chicks arrive you can go out at night, and swap out the eggs for the chicks. She will notice, but probablu not register. In the morning she will probably be proudly sitting on "Her" babies she "hatched".
I added probably alot because as someone else mentioned you never really know how a young hen might act, or if something could go wrong. I would try it though, but then I love seeing a mama caring for babies.