Should I go with Chicks or Pullets

[LateBirdFarms]

Great question. I learned from my first flock to accept accidental roosters... no matter how much you pay for hens. I’m ordering 15 chicks. I’m expecting a couple of Roos in the batch.

Yay for babies! Just keep in mind how quickly the little ones grow! A dog crate is a great start, but 15 in there may get to be a bit messy and bully eachother before they're feathered out.

 

[Sally PB]

Yay for babies! Just keep in mind how quickly the little ones grow! A dog crate is a great start, but 15 in there may get to be a bit messy and bully each other before they're feathered out.

I bought the biggest dog crate (Retriever brand) they had, and it was 2.5x4, so 10 square feet. With 6 chicks, it was great while they were tiny, but by the time they moved out to the coop, it was pretty crowded. I got them the end of March. You are way south of me, so your weather will warm up much more quickly.

Another thought... If you have a second crate or a big box, you could make that an attached room, for more space as they grow. I found a small dog crate at Goodwill a couple weeks ago for $12, and snapped it up.

(You know we're gonna want lots of pictures... right? Just sayin'...)

 

[Stephanie8806]

About a month ago, I had to cull my flock of 7. I hated to do it but it was necessary. Now it’s time to get started again. My first flock was a combination of gifted and purchased chickens. I never wanted the hassle of dealing with chicks... setting up a brooder, having to worry about heat sources, etc. Too much trouble for me. I preferred pullets because they were a pretty much ready to go as soon as I got them. The integration of new chicks into the existing flock was a challenge, but a lot easier than having to deal with chicks. For me, it was worth paying anywhere from $12 to $25 for pullets.

Now that I need to rebuild, I’m thinking about starting from chicks instead of pullets because the cost of pullets (I want 10) can be kinda high. I’m looking at around $150 for 10 pullets vs $50 for the same number of chicks. I also figure that I wouldn’t have to worry about integration issues and having to quarantine new chicks.

But that means I still have to brood chicks, keep them warm and all the riggamarow. What are your thought? Is raising from chicks worth it? Any tricks for making this process as foolproof as possible? How can this reluctant chick owner successfully get through the brooding process?

I think you should go with pullets. It’s $100 difference, yes, but then you have to brood them which usually requires a bit of a special setup... even if it’s not super costly, you’re also likely getting starter feed, heat lamps, and having to deal with them for weeks.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE chicks and raising them myself, but it can definitely be a hassle... the $100 for pullets is a convenience fee. If you’re getting pullets that are at least 10 weeks old, it only comes out to $10/week.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

Yay for babies! Just keep in mind how quickly the little ones grow! A dog crate is a great start, but 15 in there may get to be a bit messy and bully eachother before they're feathered out.

Dang... even chicks bully... smh. I guess I can’t get away from that.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

I bought the biggest dog crate (Retriever brand) they had, and it was 2.5x4, so 10 square feet. With 6 chicks, it was great while they were tiny, but by the time they moved out to the coop, it was pretty crowded. I got them the end of March. You are way south of me, so your weather will warm up much more quickly.

Another thought... If you have a second crate or a big box, you could make that an attached room, for more space as they grow. I found a small dog crate at Goodwill a couple weeks ago for $12, and snapped it up.

(You know we're gonna want lots of pictures... right? Just sayin'...)

I do have an addition crate that my dog outgrew. Excellent suggestion.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Dang... even chicks bully... smh. I guess I can’t get away from that.

They can, yep! But they're a heck of a lot better about not trying to pluck each other bald if they have enough room to stretch, so there's that. The multiple dog crate idea works beautifully if you've got the space. The wire ones are great for that, especially the ones that the entire ends open completely so you can just zip tie. I've been lucky enough to find them on people's curbs all over the place.

 

[Sally PB]

I've been lucky enough to find them on people's curbs all over the place.

WOW! I'd be on those like stink on cecal poop!

 

[BleuSaphir]

Chicks! Who doesn’t want these cute fluffy birds!?

 

[Tonyroo]

I don't see the hassle of raising chicks. There no different than raising adult birds, difference is chicks require heat source.

I went with the economy brooder and made it myself out of cardboard boxes. It's 6' x 5' and sitting in my living room. I make sure there exposed to all sorts of noises so they don't flinch when there adults. Plus I like listening to there chirping noises it makes my day so much better.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

I don't see the hassle of raising chicks. There no different than raising adult birds, difference is chicks require heat source.

I went with the economy brooder and made it myself out of cardboard boxes. It's 6' x 5' and sitting in my living room. I make sure there exposed to all sorts of noises so they don't flinch when there adults. Plus I like listening to there chirping noises it makes my day so much better.

We all have our own level of tolerance. Maybe after this experience, my view will change but I'm not particularly looking forward to this. It's just a means of getting to new hens. I'd love to see your economy brooder. If you have pics, please post.