Well I finally broke down and ordered chicks from Ideal

[Bluemoon420]

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What? Personality doesn't trump looks?

Every time I'd look at em, I'd think a buzzard invaded my coop.

I don't even wanna know what my two RIR girls would do to them.

Bluemoon

 

[NoelTate]

I have had a few turkens from Ideal, and I absolutely loved them. I've gotten buff, red, black, and black with red mixed in the neck. They were all good to excellent layers. They have generally been very quiet, sweet birds. My fav chicken is a turken from Ideal. Every time I go in the pen she comes over wanting to be picked up and snuggled. Wonderful, wonderful birds, in my opinion. I hope to find bantam ones this spring and build a brand new, nicer coop for them.

 

[biddyboo]

Funny but adorable little chicks. They look very cold to me. If they were mine, I'd be busy knitting ruffs to snuggle around their necks, or turtle neck knits to pull down over their heads and around their necks I understand natural selection promoting development of buzzards' naked necks, meeting their life need of thrusting their heads into carrion and not transferring yuck down their neck feathers. But what happened with chickens to begin this phenomenon? Does anyone on the forum know? ~G

 

[gritsar]

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Turkens were breed to be lightly feathered and completely missing feathers on the breast and neck to make them easier and faster to pluck.

No plucking of my pets happening on this farm. I just want the personality.
ETA: Surprisingly, they are reported to be cold hardy.

 

[gritsar]

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Thanks for the imput.

 

[BellLisamo]

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I see Jerseygirl already answered your question. Thanks Jersey

Ideal doesn't have a chick minimum, only a minimum dollar amount.
I don't mind telling you that my order total for the chicks I listed above, plus the small order charges, postal insurance etc. was $42.41. Had I ordered from "the other small order place" the chicks alone would have been more than that.

Just wait till the weather is more stable (springtime is the right time for chicks IMO), specify that you don't want males added for warmth and ask for extra straw to be placed in the box.

Jersey, add the turkens and we'll start an ugly bird revolution!

Thanks so much for answering me, sorry to sound like a doof.

And its nice to hear that they are the cheapest of the small orders. I cant wait to see pictures!!! Love chicks!!

 

[txchickie]

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Yes, they are good layers!

Yes, they came from Ideal!

I have 3 buff and one black

They are so so friendly, and do surprisingly well in the cold. We've got 14" of snow and it's down to 4-5 degrees at night and they're doing great!

 

[gritsar]

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Yes, they are good layers!

Yes, they came from Ideal!

I have 3 buff and one black

They are so so friendly, and do surprisingly well in the cold. We've got 14" of snow and it's down to 4-5 degrees at night and they're doing great!

Thanks

 

[Mahonri]

Yeah, I think my other chickens would freak if I had some turkens.

When I was a kid, I knew a fellow who had a coop full of red turkens and they were GREAT layers of big brown eggs.

 

[vkp23]

They indeed do very well in cold! If you look at my pics I posted, my little black roo with what looks like white frosted feathers (he's my fav!) He has the characteristic missing feathers around the wings and vent. His but is bald! Any way, he has done very well along with the others. When I pick them up after them having been in the freezing cold their neck is surprisingly warm. Almost hot. Not at all like how humans skin will be cold to the touch if you have been outside for a while.