Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[Egghead_Jr]

For a dozen a week or so I figure is 2 hens at minimum but probably technically 4 hens to achieve. (*might get double that might get snubbed! This I know, but need a buffer lol)
For every extra dozen I'm thinking double that number of hens. So we want 3-4 dozen a week.
Thinking I would need at least 8 but realistically closer to 16 hens to get proper egg numbers, even then I know molting and seasons can hault it a bit...we need pullets then. Always need a few extra pullets when chicks (in case we lose one?)
Probably straight run chicks? So I need DOUBLE the actual number needed for a good chance at getting half pullets. Then will eat the roos (but whew that's a long time growing out roos to eat lol) so wanting a few dozen eggs leads to over 30 new peeps about right? u

The feed store should offer pullet layers. If sold that way your chances of getting a cockerel are very slim. 8 layer pullets should more than fit your egg requirements of 3-4 dozen. Especially if they are offering sex links. To which I like the black sex links more than the reds though both excellent layers. Our first year with chickens we had both and they would lay 9 days straight, take a day off then lay another 9 days straight. We were inundated with eggs as I estimated 5 eggs a week per bird and that was way off.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Chick Days at Tractor Supply Monday. Get ready chicken lovers.

Why did you have to tell me that??????

Hee hee hee. Cause I knew that you wanted to know.

 

[LemonMeringue]

I was at Petrus (local feed store) day before yesterday and they already have their brooders about 70% loaded. I had to leave the room! So cute!

 

[SlipsWife]

What is chick days? I need in on this. We aren't big Tractor supply people yet lol
Are they selling chicks now?
Is there a super sale? (still paying for my last super sale

)
Humor my brain while I absorb what's about to happen knowing the local feed store actually has chicks (not have to order but in my hand peeps)

crap chicken math!

We want eggs to go with meaties lol
For a dozen a week or so I figure is 2 hens at minimum but probably technically 4 hens to achieve. (*might get double that might get snubbed! This I know, but need a buffer lol)
For every extra dozen I'm thinking double that number of hens. So we want 3-4 dozen a week.
Thinking I would need at least 8 but realistically closer to 16 hens to get proper egg numbers, even then I know molting and seasons can hault it a bit...we need pullets then. Always need a few extra pullets when chicks (in case we lose one?)
Probably straight run chicks? So I need DOUBLE the actual number needed for a good chance at getting half pullets. Then will eat the roos (but whew that's a long time growing out roos to eat lol) so wanting a few dozen eggs leads to over 30 new peeps about right? u
Still a chicken newb in many many many ways!

I have only gotten chicks from breeders and random rescues and meaties at hatcheries...are these hatchery layer chicks?! I want real layers but don't wanna pay shipping lol I almost placed an order for Dominiques for someone but they bailed and I didn't have my minimum met (only want 4 lol)

lol love fluffybutt nuggets but in a different way (yum) my novelty flock of layers is small and we need more eggs than we got last year. Hubby says Keep the rainbow but where's his eggs!? Lol

Our local TSC orders from Privett out of New Mexico. You have to buy a minimum of 6 chicks at a time, I'm not sure if that's just ours or company policy. We bought their red sex links last year and they are laying machines. We didn't have to add any light during the winter (they were a late February hatch if I remember right) and rarely took a day off. Their eggs are x-large brown. They are sweet girls. The only downside I've read is that they tend to become egg bound or burn out quickly compared to heritage breeds. Plus, with the sex links, you are getting the girls you want

We bought Cinnamon Queens from Cackle this year but still plan to pick up a couple from TSC. That way if anything happens to our original girls, we have girls ready to go. Since we had to order so many on the Cinnamon Queens and EE pullets to reach our minimum we won't be keeping them all. The extras sold well last year, as chicks and a few months old. My husband said this year we are going to hang onto them until they are a little older and then pick out who we want. We have 51 chicks right now with 40ish coming in March plus I have a hard time walking out of TSC during chick days without chicks!

 

[foreverlearning]

What is chick days? I need in on this. We aren't big Tractor supply people yet lol
Are they selling chicks now?
Is there a super sale? (still paying for my last super sale

)
Humor my brain while I absorb what's about to happen knowing the local feed store actually has chicks (not have to order but in my hand peeps)

crap chicken math!

We want eggs to go with meaties lol
For a dozen a week or so I figure is 2 hens at minimum but probably technically 4 hens to achieve. (*might get double that might get snubbed! This I know, but need a buffer lol)
For every extra dozen I'm thinking double that number of hens. So we want 3-4 dozen a week.
Thinking I would need at least 8 but realistically closer to 16 hens to get proper egg numbers, even then I know molting and seasons can hault it a bit...we need pullets then. Always need a few extra pullets when chicks (in case we lose one?)
Probably straight run chicks? So I need DOUBLE the actual number needed for a good chance at getting half pullets. Then will eat the roos (but whew that's a long time growing out roos to eat lol) so wanting a few dozen eggs leads to over 30 new peeps about right? u
Still a chicken newb in many many many ways!

I have only gotten chicks from breeders and random rescues and meaties at hatcheries...are these hatchery layer chicks?! I want real layers but don't wanna pay shipping lol I almost placed an order for Dominiques for someone but they bailed and I didn't have my minimum met (only want 4 lol)

lol love fluffybutt nuggets but in a different way (yum) my novelty flock of layers is small and we need more eggs than we got last year. Hubby says Keep the rainbow but where's his eggs!? Lol

Yup, that chicken math sounds about right. Idealpoultry.com does not charge shipping to 3 states and ours is one of them. I suggest to look at their advertised specials sections for even better prices. Even with free shipping their prices are still low for the chicks.

 

[foreverlearning]

TSC has a company min for getting chicks but if you say something like I already have a ton of chickens they tend to allow you to get as few as one. I think they do it so the chicks won't be lonely but I'm not sure.

 

[Angelicisi]

Wow, what's that big yellow thing in the sky?!
Repurposed old shower curtain for some shade while they eat lunch

There are about 10 that are waaaay out in the woodson a hunt or chase and I just couldn't get their attention with the scoop or the bucket! I see white dots lol they're gonna miss lunch :/ maybe they found a better lunch!

and this guy...he just wants to give me a heart attack Sun bathing.

 

[Angelicisi]

I tried twice to go to ideal poultry and got web errors cockrel-blocking at it's finest! I was ready to do some ordering too lol busy tomorrow then may be delayed a week while finishing new cages for the rabbitry that's almost done yay!

Yup, that chicken math sounds about right. Idealpoultry.com does not charge shipping to 3 states and ours is one of them. I suggest to look at their advertised specials sections for even better prices. Even with free shipping their prices are still low for the chicks.

 

[foreverlearning]

I tried twice to go to ideal poultry and got web errors

cockrel-blocking at it's finest! I was ready to do some ordering too lol busy tomorrow then may be delayed a week while finishing new cages for the rabbitry that's almost done yay!

They must be updating their page. I was just in it the other day and now it is saying server error. Give them a try in the morning. Have fun with the rabbits! Once you get done building for them it will be time to start another batch of broilers.

 

[SlipsWife]

I tried twice to go to ideal poultry and got web errors

cockrel-blocking at it's finest! I was ready to do some ordering too lol busy tomorrow then may be delayed a week while finishing new cages for the rabbitry that's almost done yay!

They must be updating their page. I was just in it the other day and now it is saying server error. Give them a try in the morning. Have fun with the rabbits! Once you get done building for them it will be time to start another batch of broilers.

So, the page is working for me and I wish it wasn't!!! They have bantam Cornish (silly me, I didn't realize there was such a thing...) and if you order 25+ of the assorted Cornish bantams they are $1.20 each. Ummmm, how stinking cute would a bunch of mini-deep fried little personal chickens be for dinner?! I'm not sure if that's what they sell as Cornish game hens at the super market or if they are just small Cornish x's...I quickly read up on them and have read that some people have trouble with them laying/reproducing but others don't. They also say they take 18 wks (I believe...) to mature out and they will obviously be small...but small means less feed, less space and a perfect excuse to buy more chicks!!!

I have to stay off of the hatchery sites! (you have to go under advertised specials to find the best prices. If you just go to bantams/Cornish it won't be the special pricing) Btw, the prices on ducks seemed crazy to me too. I can't get my husband to agree to 1 duck though so I will NOT push my luck for 25...