Straight run vs. pullets....

[snowflake]

I don't know what kind of roosters the person with 30 nice ones has but we have not had that kind of luck. I had 11 roosters last year and they drove me nuts going after each other. I finally had to separate them all till I could get them to freezer camp. If they got out they terrorized the hens. I have 2 now, my EE is a sweet heart but my Sussex goes after the kids, and has gone after me a time or three. I carry him, net him, and box him. Have to keep my eye on him all the time.....I am not enamored by roosters

Good luck with your birds. Hens and some roosters are great!

 

[Menmyrc]

Quote:
Buck Creek - Let me introduce myself! Now you know me! I ordered 30 straight run and got 17 pullets and 13 roos!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
1.) I am just guessing that you have a lot of land to go with those free ranging 30 plus roosters and hens . . . . .
There are many who will attest to making chicken soup out of a too aggressive roo - - - so PLEASE, don't pretend like some roos don't get nasty.
My sweet roo is my favorite to hold - - - but he would be gone in a heart beat if he turned on me or my children.

2.) Considering ROO Fighting is considered a "sport" in places - - - not HEN Fighting, There might be something to the nature of roos fighting.

3.) I don't think they would make chicken saddles if there wasn't an issue with roos damaging the hens.

4.) No denying they are fun to watch. EGGS EGGS EGGS this is why I got into chickens. I don't want half my flock to be unproductive, food consuming, chickens. Roos don't help me with this goal. I have a FEW roos. I have those only for breeding purposes. I don't free range mine - - - so the need for protection is not an issue.

 

[poltroon]

For another reason people order straight run - obviously, the chicks are born roughly 50-50. The roosters have to go somewhere. If you order pullets and no one orders cockerels, the hatchery has to destroy the excess males.

Many breeders choose not to do this, so they offer only straight run.

It's difficult to sex bantams, so bantams are generally offered only straight run.

Obviously, if you're not prepared for roosters, ordering pullets only is the right way to go.

 

[defenestra]

Most males are a pound or two heavier than females, and should have more meat. So I guess if someone wants chickens for both eggs and meat (as many do) that's a good option. Females lay eggs, and all but 1-2 males go in the pot.

The main poultry hatchery in my area sells straight runs about 20% less than pullets (and males about 40%.)

 

[AinaWGSD]

Quote:
1. It depends a lot on why you are getting chickens in the first place. Most people who really don't want roosters won't risk straight run chicks and will pay the extra for pullets. But even those who buy pullets still need a plan for what to do with any unwanted roosters since even the best vent sexers can not be 100% accurate. For most small backyard flock owners the price difference really isn't significant. But if you were ordering a very large number of birds and don't mind killing the extra roosters, then it might make it worth risking 50-60% roosters to get the price break for straight run vs pullets.

2. Again, it depends a lot on why you want chickens and what kind of an environment you can provide. There are pros and cons to keeping roosters and it's up to each individual to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. Some roosters are people aggressive and can take all the fun out of having chickens. Some people can't deal with the noise, either because it bothers them or it will cause problems with close neighbors. Some people love roosters and couldn't imagine chicken keeping without them. Whether you feel that the pros outweigh the cons or not, there is no questioning that poorly managed rosters really are that bad. If you decide that you don't want roosters r can't provide an appropriate environment for them and you end up with one (or more), then you will have to decide if you want to sell them or give them away (knowing they will most likely be killed and eaten) or if you want to process them yourself.

3. Sex links are a cross of colors/patterns that can be sexed as soon as they hatch because male chicks are one color and female chicks are a different color. They may be a hybrid of two different breeds or they may be from parents of the same breed but different color varieties. Most sex links are good layers because most people who want pullets only and want a nearly 100% guarantee of no roosters are interested in keeping chickens for eggs rather than for meat or for meat and eggs. But that doesn't mean they are the best or most preferred layers, several breeds and non-sex-linked hybrids lay just as well or even better than sex links. But they are usually the preferred birds for those who want day old chicks but absolutely can't have roosters and don't want to deal with having a game plan for the odd cockerel mistaken for a pullet during sexing.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
Buck Creek - Let me introduce myself! Now you know me! I ordered 30 straight run and got 17 pullets and 13 roos!

hello, i'm glad someone gets more pullets then roo's but you are a rare bird, what hatchery did you get your birds from?

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
1.) I am just guessing that you have a lot of land to go with those free ranging 30 plus roosters and hens . . . . .
There are many who will attest to making chicken soup out of a too aggressive roo - - - so PLEASE, don't pretend like some roos don't get nasty.
My sweet roo is my favorite to hold - - - but he would be gone in a heart beat if he turned on me or my children.

2.) Considering ROO Fighting is considered a "sport" in places - - - not HEN Fighting, There might be something to the nature of roos fighting.

3.) I don't think they would make chicken saddles if there wasn't an issue with roos damaging the hens.

4.) No denying they are fun to watch. EGGS EGGS EGGS this is why I got into chickens. I don't want half my flock to be unproductive, food consuming, chickens. Roos don't help me with this goal. I have a FEW roos. I have those only for breeding purposes. I don't free range mine - - - so the need for protection is not an issue.

1)No, less than an acre, I weed out my nasty roo's, in the stock pot they go, you first post put all roo's as nasty, breed make a difference. I never said I've never had a bad roo, but to group them all as bad is not right.

2) breed is also what makes a fighting roo, just the same as dogs, i've had just as many hens fight as roo's

3) if your roo is ripping apart a hen, trim his claws, why buy saddles, if your hen is loosing a few feathers, is a different hen pulling them, they do that too

4) I get 4-5 doz eggs a day, have you had a weesel get in you coop, or a rat. your hens need proction from those too, not just hawks or owls

 

[Menmyrc]

Quote:
Buck Creek - Let me introduce myself! Now you know me! I ordered 30 straight run and got 17 pullets and 13 roos!

hello, i'm glad someone gets more pullets then roo's but you are a rare bird, what hatchery did you get your birds from?

McMurray's. I will say that I ordered pretty early in the season. They were hatched March 5th and there was no wait time like there is now. It was probably a supply and demand thing. Most of the country was probably still frozen and not ready for day-olds. Just my assumption.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I do suggest you go back and carefully read my post - - - -

The exact words were "Not all , but some roosters will attack . . .

Your statement "I weed out my nasty roo's . . . " says enough.

I won't address the rest because I feel we are taking away from the original posters intent.

Have a good night Buck Creek Chicken and sleep soundly while you can - - - -
before those 30 roosters start crowing in the morning.