starting my first flock

[mistyfeather]

i am a bout o start my first flock what would be better to start with, hatching my oun eggs or ordering chicks?

 

[Chicken Chat]

I think it would depend on where you live, city or country. If you incubate, you never know if you will get a lot of roos or very few, so if you have noise laws in your area, that might make a difference.

 

[mistyfeather]

i live in the city but my mom ,dad and brother live in the mountains, my brother said he would keep some there if i ended up with a few roos

that way i can still breed some of my own chicks latter on

 

[rcentner]

I am glad I started with adults, I think with my inexperience I would have had a lot of trouble with chicks. Just wanted to add that thought

 

[fasbendera]

Are you starting a flock for eggs? If so the hatchery is going to give you better odds for hens than hatching your own eggs. I hatch out a few every couple of years just for fun. My flock is from a hatchery and the breeds are varied. With roosters that aren't a meat variety the meat to feed ratio is low but you can still use them for food.

 

[mistyfeather]

mostly for eggs but would like a few to go in the freezer

 

[Chickenmaven]

I started with an order of hatchery pullets & I recommend that route. Everyone thinks it will be no hassle to rehome "a couple" of roosters. Unless you plan to eat those extra roosters (and I don't), rehoming is a major, major headache. I had a hatch of silkies this summer that was 5 pullets and 9 cockerals. I had to beg people to take them!
Remember: you hatch 50/50 and your recommended rooster/hen ratio is about 1/10.
One last thing: I would warn against acquiring grown birds. BYC is awash with stories of people agonizing over their sick chickens. Your best bet is to hatch your own or order a box of day-old hatchery chicks. I recommend the latter. I failed at incubating 3 times and sold the dreaded thing. The hatchery route is the least fuss - IMHO.

 

[mistyfeather]

thanx great advise,

think i will go the safe rout and start with chicks. think im too excited to wait for them to hatch.

 

[Bantimna]

I would recomend you start with day olds. or starter chicks. What do you intend doing with them?

 

[fasbendera]

Just wanted to share. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=264937
Sounds like you are getting your flock for the same reason I did. I love the purebred threads but sometimes it is nice to talk to someone who just has a hatchery flock.