Striaght run chicks

[Crazyfarmlady25]

I'm looking at a local small hatchery (a mom and pop place that's been in business since 1996) but only want 3 breeds (to finish out my small flock) they sell the 3 breeds I want as straight run and I only want 2 per breed but wonder if I should get 3 to have a better chance at a pullet (don't want roos so if end up with any roos will have to rehome) 2 of these breeds I cannot find at any other breeders in surrounding states so would really like to get them here. I know most people say it's 50/50 for straight run but I don't want to have to buy 8-10 just to have better odds but still not a garentee of a pullet. And only one of the 3 breeds which is sold as a straight run is one they can be sexed by beak and leg color at birth (zombie). I don't want to spend so much money to get 15 or more between the 3 breeds cus I'd have to hope someone might buy a male chick for a few dollars so I'm not wasting all the money I spent with chicks I don't want to grow out. I only want 4-6 pullets to round out my flock so hubby would also blow a gasket and not let me get much if any if had to get 5+ per breed just for a chance at 1 hen. These breeds are not sold at any local farm stores round us (tractor supply, fleet farm, bomgarrs).

 

[Folly's place]

Sounds familiar! We too sometimes want chicks only sold straight run, and given the small number wanted, the odds of getting cockerels is pretty high. Have a plan for them, and definitely order more than you would like to order, so the odds are a bit better to get at least some pullets.
Recently here we got five cockerels out of six, and another set of six brought us five pullets. 50-50, right?
Can you get the chicks you'd like by ordering from a hatchery? Is there a hatchery within your comfort zone to pick up birds in person?
Look up Cackle, MurrayMcMurray, or whoever and see what's available.
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you get one chick the odds are 50-50 male or female. If you get 2 chicks the odds are 1 in 4 both are pullets, 1 in 4 both are cockerels, and 1 in 2 that you have one of each. If you get 3 chicks the odds are 1 in 8 that all are pullets, 1 in 8 that all are cockerels, 3 in 8 for 2 pullets and 3 in 8 for 2 cockerels. Those are all odds, you do not get guarantees. I once got 7 pullets out of 7 straight run chicks. There is no telling what you would actually come home with.

If you are getting them from that hatchery the only thing I can think of is to talk to them about others buying their chicks and see if you can find someone that is willing to split an order with you and take any males you get and give you pullets in exchange after they mature enough to sex.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

Sounds familiar! We too sometimes want chicks only sold straight run, and given the small number wanted, the odds of getting cockerels is pretty high. Have a plan for them, and definitely order more than you would like to order, so the odds are a bit better to get at least some pullets.
Recently here we got five cockerels out of six, and another set of six brought us five pullets. 50-50, right?
Can you get the chicks you'd like by ordering from a hatchery? Is there a hatchery within your comfort zone to pick up birds in person?
Look up Cackle, MurrayMcMurray, or whoever and see what's available.
Mary

Yea there are hatcheries like cackle and hoover but they don't carry the breeds I want (zombie, splash marans, splash cochin bantam) this one has them and they go to farm stores every weekend between Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to sell chicks. I could go directly to their hatchery (little over 2hrs from me) or to a farm store and pick out ones they have. They did say some breeds I'd have to call pre order the splash ones but could then pick them up and pick out my zombies at one of the locations (could chance going to pick out all breeds I want at the farm stores but not garenteed that if I wasn't there in first hr that they would have any). And with no real way to tell sex at day or two old it would still be a possibility I pick more roos then hens

 

[debid]

Do they not sell started pullets? A lot of places like the one you describe will have both chicks and grown pullets that are being culled from their breeding program for various reasons that have nothing to do with suitability for your flock. I'd ask about that -- buy birds deemed pet quality.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

Do they not sell started pullets? A lot of places like the one you describe will have both chicks and grown pullets that are being culled from their breeding program for various reasons that have nothing to do with suitability for your flock. I'd ask about that -- buy birds deemed pet quality.

They do not advertise that. It's certain breeds that are autosexed are sold as pullets then the straight run then big batches of chicks 25-50 or hatching eggs. They also sell ducks.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

This is the pricing sheet they posted on their fb page (they have a website but mainly use fb.