Norcalnewbie
In the Brooder
- Dec 13, 2020
- 12
- 31
- 46
We want to end up with 6 hens this coming year, each one of a different breed (BCM, Silkie, Polish, Lavender orpington, EE, Cochin). Our plan was to get 6 chicks this Spring, but upon more research I’m concerned we will end up with some roos if we get them all as chicks from local breeders. I was really hoping to have our two daughters raise the chicks from hand as just-hatched to ensure they’re friendly and good pets, but also worried we will put in all this effort, get attached, and then find out a couple months later that some of our little fluffy butts are roosters that will have to be rehomed, leaving us to then find the same breeds as pullets that will have to be incorporated into the flock - a possibly stressful task as I’ve read (or maybe not - expert advice welcome!).
So my question is this - if we’re starting fresh, what is the best approach to take that allows for the best human-chicken bond, fun for the kids, stability of the flock, while ensuring we will end up with the right number of hens (excluding chicken math, I know I know). I know probably the right answer is to buy them all as sexed pullets, but that frankly just doesn’t seem as fun as getting chicks, and also doesn’t allow for as much crucial human handling, and we want our chickens first and foremost to be friendly family pets.
Is it worth it to just buy a bunch of chicks, maybe 3 of each breed we want, and cross our fingers that at least one of each ends up female and then sell or give away the rest? How difficult is it to find someone to buy hens or rehome roosters? What are the steps for getting them DNA tested?
Curious to know how the larger hatcheries sex their day old chicks that typically can’t be sexed until they’re pullets. I’ve already looked into the logistics of mail-ordered chicks, but I’d rather shop local and I’m already in contact with some breeders, and also I don’t want as many as the typical minimum order of 15 or 25 chicks, (unless maybe that could be the strategy as listed above.)
Lastly, what should I look for when choosing a breeder? Should I only be looking into breeders that have a great reputation, vaccinate, and breed to American standards? Or does that only matter if I’m planning on starting my own breeding program, which I’m not.
Any advice or professional insight is welcome.
So my question is this - if we’re starting fresh, what is the best approach to take that allows for the best human-chicken bond, fun for the kids, stability of the flock, while ensuring we will end up with the right number of hens (excluding chicken math, I know I know). I know probably the right answer is to buy them all as sexed pullets, but that frankly just doesn’t seem as fun as getting chicks, and also doesn’t allow for as much crucial human handling, and we want our chickens first and foremost to be friendly family pets.
Is it worth it to just buy a bunch of chicks, maybe 3 of each breed we want, and cross our fingers that at least one of each ends up female and then sell or give away the rest? How difficult is it to find someone to buy hens or rehome roosters? What are the steps for getting them DNA tested?
Curious to know how the larger hatcheries sex their day old chicks that typically can’t be sexed until they’re pullets. I’ve already looked into the logistics of mail-ordered chicks, but I’d rather shop local and I’m already in contact with some breeders, and also I don’t want as many as the typical minimum order of 15 or 25 chicks, (unless maybe that could be the strategy as listed above.)
Lastly, what should I look for when choosing a breeder? Should I only be looking into breeders that have a great reputation, vaccinate, and breed to American standards? Or does that only matter if I’m planning on starting my own breeding program, which I’m not.
Any advice or professional insight is welcome.