Utah!

[GinnyO]

Yay, that's awesome! I can't wait to start getting eggs!

 

[the-bird-man]

Yes, but it was a wild goose chase. One was a "rescue" and I went to the address, which turned out to be a small house with no yard. There were small children there, but the woman I had communicated with had stepped out, even though I had told her when I would be there. The other one texted me as I was half way there and said he'd stepped out and to put him in a kennel outside (no water or shade) if he wasn't there. I got there, assessed the situation and decided not to leave him. I didn't get another text from the guy until 9 hours later, so I decided that was a bad idea, too. I get that people want them for food, but I didn't like leaving him outside all day in the sun with no shade or water. If anyone's going to eat him, it'll be me, he's organic and soy free (I was hoping for eggs I can tolerate) but he's still kind of small. I keep hoping that someone might want him, he's really sweet and pretty and it's killing me that I can't keep him myself. I wish he was mean, it would be easier!

welcome is the kennel guy in lehi? i gave one of my roos to him. i dont think the guy likes to deal face to face and we went around the block and when we drove by someone had come got the cage. cant say he does that all the time but it was the impression i got. the thing i found kinda odd was the guy asked if i had any left over food i wanted to donate. i had about a lb left so i gave him that. also seeing his goat that looked well cared for helped ease my mind. but yeah it did feel a little odd but i felt good about it in the end

 

[iPickYupik]

Ok, this may be a stupid question but if someone is selling chicks as straight run, do buyers typically get to pick and choose which chicks they want or does the seller decide which ones the buyers going to get? If it's 3-5 chicks and you are meeting someone somewhere to buy them all and after seeing them they say they don't want a couple specific chicks, what do you do? I'm wondering for myself as both a buyer and seller. This is the first time I have multiple chicks I'm selling and they are only 2.5 weeks but I warned the buyer that they are already seeming boyish to me. I want to be honest though I know I could just sell them all as straight run and not say anything since I'm not certain. Know what I mean? I'm picture crazy and have sent plenty of pics to prospective buyers but it seems many other sellers don't want to send pics so, in that case, do you just expect to get what they give you? Just wanting to know proper buyer/seller etiquette.

 

[sideWing]

Ok, this may be a stupid question but if someone is selling chicks as straight run, do buyers typically get to pick and choose which chicks they want or does the seller decide which ones the buyers going to get? If it's 3-5 chicks and you are meeting someone somewhere to buy them all and after seeing them they say they don't want a couple specific chicks, what do you do? I'm wondering for myself as both a buyer and seller. This is the first time I have multiple chicks I'm selling and they are only 2.5 weeks but I warned the buyer that they are already seeming boyish to me. I want to be honest though I know I could just sell them all as straight run and not say anything since I'm not certain. Know what I mean? I'm picture crazy and have sent plenty of pics to prospective buyers but it seems many other sellers don't want to send pics so, in that case, do you just expect to get what they give you? Just wanting to know proper buyer/seller etiquette.

This is such a great question and one I have been thinking about a lot. When I bought my SLW they guy told me when I got there that I could check them out and pick the ones I wanted. I wanted to endup with a breeding group out of 6 so I feather sexed them and I was exactly right. This in theory left him with more males for the next guy.

When I sell chicks next year I will allow them to tell me what ones they want, but I will be upfront that I will not allow feather sexing. Two good reasons for this. 1. In order to keep out contamination and disease from other flocks I can't have you touching my chicks and putting them back. You point to the one you want and I give it to you. You touch it you buy it. 2. It's not fair to the next guy buying strait run if you feather sex them and get all pullets. I will communicate this before they look at the chicks.

Another option: If they want me to feather sex them then the price doubles.

It also depends on the breed. Some breeds you just can't feather sex like BCM. Can you tell on EEs? I guess it all depends on what they are mixed with. The fast feathering is genetic and with mixes it they may or may not have it.

I do see ads and have posted them myself saying that you just aren't sure on sex but you think it's X.

 

[iPickYupik]

This is such a great question and one I have been thinking about a lot. When I bought my SLW they guy told me when I got there that I could check them out and pick the ones I wanted. I wanted to endup with a breeding group out of 6 so I feather sexed them and I was exactly right. This in theory left him with more males for the next guy. 

When I sell chicks next year I will allow them to tell me what ones they want, but I will be upfront that I will not allow feather sexing. Two good reasons for this. 1. In order to keep out contamination and disease from other flocks I can't have you touching my chicks and putting them back. You point to the one you want and I give it to you. You touch it you buy it. 2. It's not fair to the next guy buying strait run if you feather sex them and get all pullets. I will communicate this before they look at the chicks.

Another option: If they want me to feather sex them then the price doubles.

It also depends on the breed. Some breeds you just can't feather sex like BCM. Can you tell on EEs? I guess it all depends on what they are mixed with. The fast feathering is genetic and with mixes it they may or may not have it.

I do see ads and have posted them myself saying that you just aren't sure on sex but you think it's X.

With my OEs, I'm guessing they are boys because I can already see 3 rows of peas on some of them at 2.5 weeks and some are already quite aggressive towards an older chick that we know is a roo.

 

[sideWing]

With my OEs, I'm guessing they are boys because I can already see 3 rows of peas on some of them at 2.5 weeks and some are already quite aggressive towards an older chick that we know is a roo.

I need to look up the EE sexing thread. I'm very familiar with Wyandotte and Marans, but EEs I have spend less time studying.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have a question too.

My Blue C. Marans just mounted a hen today...4 months old? What? Can he fertilize eggs at this age? Or is he just practicing?

 

[newmarch2014]

I need to look up the EE sexing thread. I'm very familiar with Wyandotte and Marans, but EEs I have spend less time studying.

There are tell tale signs that can be very indicative in EE's like, a 3 rows on the pea comb indicates roo, rooster red coming in on the shoulders early, a blotchy feather pattern as opposed to an overall eveness of color distribution, flashy or showy feathers as opposed to ....boring, and the usual, early red face, thick legs etc. but all of these things require about 6 weeks of age to start seeing them.

 

[iPickYupik]

There are tell tale signs that can be very indicative in EE's like, a 3 rows on the pea comb indicates roo, rooster red coming in on the shoulders early, a blotchy feather pattern as opposed to an overall eveness of color distribution, flashy or showy feathers as opposed to ....boring, and the usual, early red face, thick legs etc. but all of these things require about 6 weeks of age to start seeing them.

This chick is my likely purebred Ameraucana. It's only 2.5 weeks old. I'm definitely seeing 3 rows of peas. I'll have to keep in touch with the buyer who is taking all 5 and follow up with him in 2 months or so to see what they all turned out as so I know for future hatches. I'll be very happy for him if he gets some hens and will know if it's really too early and to keep my predictions to myself. Lol.

 

[iPickYupik]

I need to look up the EE sexing thread. I'm very familiar with Wyandotte and Marans, but EEs I have spend less time studying. 

So with Marans, at a week, you really can't guess? That's what I'm picking up for myself. My daughter brought home a couple day old chick from a school hatch project and a chicken friend pegged it for a boy right away. Every time I'd post a pic she'd comment with "boy". Pics I posted on BYC, people kept telling me to wait longer. I did wait. It did end up being a boy. Lol. Darn it. I want those dark eggs! Hoping for better luck this time around.