Pullet or straight run?

[akahn01]

What is the difference between pullets and straight runs? Do you have any reccomendations?

 

[silkiechicken]

If you order pullets they will be about 90% females. If you order straight run they will be 50% males and 50% females. Generally you want females to lay eggs, and excessive males = harsh on hens.

 

[bigzio]

Andrew, pullets are females only. Straight ru is a mix of males and females, usually around 50%.

Depends on what you want for your flock.
Just hens for eggs or males for breeding and possible meat?

bigzio

 

[akahn01]

Oh, but the hatchery i was looking at had an option for just buying females. I guess that means it is a 100% chance?

 

[keljonma]

There is never a guarantee of 100% unless you purchase point-of-lay or started pullets.

Point-of-lay or started pullets are female birds almost ready to start laying eggs. They can be purchased from 17 - 20 weeks of age, depending on the hatchery.

We ordered 25 female day-old chicks (pullets).
The hatchery guaranteed 90-95% accuracy.
Guess what - we have 2 males (cockerels)!

So, even if you order all female chicks (pullets) they won't necessarily all be female.

If you order a straight run, you could get more girls that boys, or more boys than girls, but mostly likely it will be 50-50 split.

regards,
keljonma

 

[akahn01]

thanks keljonma,
Lets keep our fingers crossed i get all ladies

 

[keljonma]

Well, good luck with that! Personally, I haven't had much luck with the cross-your-fingers method.... for me it's cross-your-toes!

regards,
keljonma