Straight run bantam numbers?

[Silkie Jax]

I keep a bachelor flock. It currently numbers 8 - ranging in age from 6 mos to three years. As long as there are no ladies in the pen, they get along just fine!

I might have to try that. I'm hatching out 7 now so if I get more roos its a definite plan.

 

[SilverLacedFarmChik]

Here’s a different option; instead of getting a bunch of chicks, get two hens and a roo (or just hens) and spend the money on really nice birds. I am not knocking hatchery birds, all of my chickens are hatchery, I love them and they are all healthy and wonderful, lol. If you start small and invest in great quality birds your parents will have time to get used to the idea as you slowly expand your flock. Once they see everything is cool, you can maybe expand beyond 13 or 14...maybe add another coop someday...

 

[BDutch]

What about this: you buy 6 chicks. Straight run. All the same breed. With a little luck you get 3 pullets and 3 roosters. Chances are quit good to have at least 2 pullets. Give the roosters away for free but one and you get fertilised eggs in spring. During wintertime cockerels are no burdon for the neighbourhood. When one pullets gets broody (lay > 4 fake-eggs in the nest) , you can give daddy a new home.

After three weeks you wil have chicks you can trade with youre friends if they do the same trick.

You can also buy fertilised eggs of another breed next year if you have a broody. Over here the fertilised eggs are a lot cheaper than chicks.

 

[MROO]

I might have to try that. I'm hatching out 7 now so if I get more roos its a definite plan.

I LOVE my bachelor flock! They're more active than the hens and MUCH more colorful ... Entertainment and Eye Candy all wrapped up in one. Don't tell the ladies, but The Boys are my favorite flock!

 

[BDutch]

I LOVE my bachelor flock! They're more active than the hens and MUCH more colorful ... Entertainment and Eye Candy all wrapped up in one. Don't tell the ladies, but The Boys are my favorite flock!

I can’t keep noisy roosters like you do.
But I never had any trouble to give away my bantam roosters.
Gave a couple to a guy that buys the leghorn-hybrids (layers) after they are sexed and sells again them at point of lay. The buyers who live rural often like to have a small rooster as an alarm clock for predators.
The other roosters where ‘sold’ through a kind of Craighs list (online Market place). I had a few beautiful cockerels and it was just within a few days a breeder of Dutch/Tournaisis came along. For the mixed up ones I waited about a week before someone came along. He wanted 2 roosters for his 2 sons as pets (no pullets).
And I sold a mother with 2 cockerel chicks to a family who had a lonely bantam chicken (the other died) and they wanted a friend for her. She planned to keep one cockerel/rooster and could give the other one to a farmer at the age of 4 months.

 

[llandry]

I ordered from MPC and Ideal Poultry in the end of June and am super happy with both. I ordered 16 SR bantams from the "assorted bantam grab bags" from each company. With 32 chicks, I was hoping to end up with 16 hens.

One chick from each shipment passed away the day after they arrived and both companies credited me back a chick.

Between the 2 orders, I recieved a great mix of 9 different breeds. I ended up with 20 females. They sent multiple chicks of each breed too so luckily I didn't loose a whole breed to roosters.

 

[llandry]

Just got done reading this whole thread.... i like the advice @SilverLacedFarmChick gave you. Don't stress about what to buy, how many, what breeds, and what if you get roosters, etc.... that's alot of stress for just starting out on what's supposed to be a really fun adventure! just buy 3 or 4 pullets from a reputable place, maybe 1 or 2 different breeds. Start with a really nice small flock and grow from there. Why add the stress of wondering if you have a rooster and what to do with it if you do on top of starting to raise chickens and getting your parents on board with it.

Just my thoughts