Please talk me out of buying more chicks

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FrankHomestead said:
I would look for breeders not hatcheries. hatcheries won't have the quality a good breeder will, nor the cost!
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How do you go about finding a good breeder for a certain breed? I'm not really happy with my Buffs that I got from Murray McMurray, they aren't very calm and the roosters nearly tore each other apart while I was trying to get around to culling them (I ended up with the two nicest roos in the bunch. I'm very happy with the Delawares I got from a breeder that does organic/free range and my New Hampshires which I got from Cackle but were from their "free range New Hampshires" which are fed organic feed and kept in chicken tractors. Both breeds are very docile and the roosters are very calm and not at all aggressive to each other. I got these two breeds so I can do the hybrid "indian river broiler" for my meat birds. I want to go back to the breeder I got the Delawares from and get the other breeds they have (BC Maran, Ameraucana, and Welsummer). Sadly, they only focus on 4 breeds. But I would love to find some other heritage breeders, but I couldn't find one for the Buffs.
 
Unless you are in a State where winter doesn't come, it's too late in the year to buy chicks. Chicks grow best according to Nature's ruthym. Early and late Spring are the best times to raise chicks for best effect.
Best,
Karen
 
raecarrow said:
How do you go about finding a good breeder for a certain breed? I'm not really happy with my Buffs that I got from Murray McMurray, they aren't very calm and the roosters nearly tore each other apart while I was trying to get around to culling them (I ended up with the two nicest roos in the bunch. I'm very happy with the Delawares I got from a breeder that does organic/free range and my New Hampshires which I got from Cackle but were from their "free range New Hampshires" which are fed organic feed and kept in chicken tractors. Both breeds are very docile and the roosters are very calm and not at all aggressive to each other. I got these two breeds so I can do the hybrid "indian river broiler" for my meat birds. I want to go back to the breeder I got the Delawares from and get the other breeds they have (BC Maran, Ameraucana, and Welsummer). Sadly, they only focus on 4 breeds. But I would love to find some other heritage breeders, but I couldn't find one for the Buffs.
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There are lots of ways to find breeders. Craigslist, facebook, feed store bulletin boards, newspaper ads, search local farms...either way take a look at their setups and take a good look at the parents...good breeders selectively breed for the best traits to pass on to their offspring. they are much better than hatchery chicks who are mass produced with only one thing in mind.....$$$$$
 
If you want to find the best breeders go to the American Poultry Association website look up Master Breeders directory and Hall of Fame breeders directory. look for the breed you want and get some from that person .
another example would be to buy the latest copy of Poultry Press newspaper ( they have a website). take a look at the ads. see who's winning at the biggest shows and buy from them. Best ,
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania
 
raecarrow said:
Doesn't that mean that they don't breed true?
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FrankHomestead said:
No, sex link means they don't breed true, because you have to breed certain colors and breeds to get the sex link chicks. auto sexing breeds are true breeds that naturally can be sexed at birth
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As long as you don't let them cross with any other birds! Certain strains of a lot of common breeds CAN be auto sexing, especially if you select your breeding stock to carry that trait forward.

As for me, I LOVE my EE gals. They tend to be friendly, inquisitive, and I love the color of their eggs. My flock is being bred to produce: birds with small combs and non feathered feet, as well as a colorful egg basket. So EE/Ams are an important back bone of my flock. This spring, I added some birds that when crossed with my (avatar) EE roo, will produce black and red sex links that will carry the blue egg gene, and have either a pea or walnut comb.
 

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