Start out with rooster or not?

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Hi Annie,

Are you planning to eat your chickens ever? If so, what I've done is order straight-run (roughly half male, half female) chicks, raise them together, then keep the pullets and my one favorite cockerel, and send the other cockerels to freezer camp. The price is less than sexed, and if one roo doesn't make it out of the brooder, you're not left roo-less.

And for what it's worth, I've settled on Australorps myself after trying Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks, and Delawares in earlier years. Our roo is a complete gentleman, but with plenty of roo-ish personality

Bryan

ETA picture:

 

[AnnieOK]

I was mostly planning for eggs. However...I'm open to the thought of eating chicken that I know where it came from, and what it was fed and such. I hadn't planned on immediately doing that though. Still, that's a good suggestion for me to mull over. I'll find out where I would take them for processing, as I definitely don't want to do that myself. Not unless I ever have to, because of some kind of no-food emergency. Thanks!

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

My advice on raising poultry and other hobby farming: If it isn't fun, don't do it!

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
you are welcome...I love taking pics of them for myself, but also to share with everyone else, in case I can help with identifying etc....
great hobby!