Surviving Minnesota!

[I Love Layers]

Thanks you guys! I had heard McMurray Murray was the place to order from but I was thinking there was a 25 chick minimum for orders. Others have brought up a good point on breeders vs hatcheries. I knew nothing about the difference but just did some prelim reading. I don't plan to show any and are primarily interested in the egg laying (in addition to docile nature as they will be pets for our 3 little munchkins....all under 5 yrs old).

Yes the 25 chick limit is bad for small flock owners. You may be able to find someone to go in with you on them.

Besides the birds looking nicer, are there other things/qualities/etc that make you happier with the breeder birds? Just trying to figure out which route I want to take.

My SQ cochins, all from breeders, all have very nice temperments, and I rarely handle them. Breeder birds take longer to mature, which is a good and bad thing depending on what you want. They will often be more productive though because they have not been bred to lay like crazy as most hatchery birds are. Most hatchery birds production peaks around 72 weeks and drops from there.

Cool! I am most excited for a silkie, they are beautiful. Shoot no sexed Silkies though huh? Def not interested in a Roo at this point. Esp not with my littles running around! And April/May it is, thanks for the input!

Like Holm said hatcheries don't sex silkies. If you are looking for a good egg layer and want something fluffy Cochins are a good bet, and they are very docile. Orpingtons also are very nice birds. And both can be ordered from any hatchery and be sexed.
Also do not believe the common myth of all roosters are aggressive. I have around 7 right now, all amazing birds, with people and the hens. When looking for a rooster best thing to do is find someone who has one for sale that is not aggressive and takes good care of the hens. I ended up lucky my first time with an amazing rooster, a Buff Chantecler, who passed his traits onto his son, and his son onto his son. I now have the 2nd and 3rd rooster mentioned and they are amazing

 

[holm25]

Yeah I have 8 roosters and not one has been aggressive. Just depends on the breeding.

 

[R2elk]

Yes the 25 chick limit is bad for small flock owners. You may be able to find someone to go in with you on them.

McMurray's minimum chick order is 25 for delivery before April 1. Deliveries April 1 and later only require a 15 chick minimum.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have 20-30 roosters 1 is plum loco.....But not dangerous.

Some love to be held. Even the two MnChickmom brainwashed into trying to kill me have come around. I actually had them on my lap for about a half an hour each while I put on their lotions and combed their feathers. They also got pedicures. They will need a few more for the next week, but they love the handling now.

I will always watch little kids around a Tom or rooster though as they attack smaller things easier than large. They can also sense fear and use that against a person.

 

[I Love Layers]

McMurray's minimum chick order is 25 for delivery before April 1. Deliveries April 1 and later only require a 15 chick minimum.

Oh yes, I forgot about that. I am so used to ordering chicks in March or earlier.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Good morning peeples

 

[BantyChooks]

Good morning peeples

You beat me by two seconds.

 

[Cebarmlds]

 

[jerryse]

Morning .

 

[BantyChooks]

Meanie first-place stealer