should i buy eggs or day old chicks?

[jenneverett]

from all I have read here at BYC they will generally start laying at 20-22 weeks give or take due to breed differences. I can wait until then but would love getting a return on my investment sooner....lol
the only real good thing is i have time to let the meal worms breed so the initial 5000 will turn into 30-50 k by the time i want to feed them to the chickens to supplement their diets. i am going to purchase grit this week and mix it in with the food, then as i mow lawns i will put the cuttings into the coop for them to eat and scratch at.

 

[jenneverett]

my birds at 8 weeks


the door to the coop with the girls getting a fresh drink


a RIR in front and an EE in the back





my two barred rocks


my other RIR


the other barred rock

 

[unclejohn]

wow, i can't wait to get some chickens! just finishing up my coop right now still

 

[randerson846]

R making it

 

[winteree]

Well now it's too late. I ordered the chicks already. I should have bought eggs! Oh well. Too late I guess

don't feel bad at least you won't have to wait for the egg's to hatch and risk getting to many roosters and further having to go through the stress of the hatching process etc. The chicks may be more expensive because i know where your coming from with the money issues but they are all ready hatched now you just have to go through raising them which lucky isn't that hard. I always thought it was funny when i talk to my grandma about the price of chicks an chickens today she didn't believe that chicks can more then 1-2 bucks and that started pullets where more then 10 bucks a piece it makes me think if it's worth it sometimes. I mean keeping chickens in the span of 20-30 years went from being for everybody to just being for those of whom who make money on a regular basis have you seen the prices of wood and chicken wire? I was really going to wait a whole more year before getting chickens until i got a bunch of chicken wire from my grandma the prices on everything have gone up since our new president. remember when gas was $1.50 a gallon when he first got into office.

 

[winteree]

my birds at 8 weeks


the door to the coop with the girls getting a fresh drink


a RIR in front and an EE in the back





my two barred rocks


my other RIR


the other barred rock

do you have any roosters in that bunch?

 

[shortfamilyfm]

Most breeds begin to lay around 20-24 weeks of age. You may hit winter about that time though. You may not see eggs until spring. Good luck!

 

[HickoryHollow]

So there is a farm here that sells chicks and eggs. I want to get some orpingtons. They sell day old chicks and fertalized eggs. i've set up an incubator but have never done this before. the thing is the chicks are 5$ each, and the eggs are only 1$ each. I am not working at this time and money is very tight.

Any advice? thoughts?

RUN! FAST! If you incubate.......you will be hooked! Get out now, before it is too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HickoryHollow]

very nice. is it true that chicks wont lay the first year?

My Golden Buffs start laying at about 16 to 17 weeks old!

 

[WalnutHill]

My Golden Buffs start laying at about 16 to 17 weeks old!

You get yours from Meyer? If so, I do too. I just wish the quality was more consistent. I make a run for started pullets once a year after culling my flock. Since I keep 150-400 layers, I don't have time to grow chicks. The initial cost is offset by the rapid returns.