what are packing peanuts from mail order hatchery?

[BigOJoe]

so what are "packing peanuts'?

i have always either bought chicks from the local farm supply or hatched my own eggs.

every since i was a kid i have wanted to buy chicks from the hatchery catalogs. so 3 weeks ago i ordered 18 chicks from Crackle Hatchery and they are due to arrive next week.

I'm guessing packing peanuts are extra chicks? what should i expect? are the extras of what ever unsold chicks they have running around? or of the same breeds i ordered?

will i get something nice, or a bunch of cockrels?

I ordered 6 welsummers, 6 Light Brahmas and 6 Partridge Plymouth rocks. each breed i ordered 5 pullets and 1 cockrels.

will they tell me what my peanuts are? or will i have to guess once the mature?

I was already excited about the arrival of my chicks, now thinking there might be surpises too!!

there should be warnings on this sight, that warns that raising chicks is habit forming!

I also have 45 eggs in lock down! if the hatch goes well, and i'm hoping, then i have a coop expansion project coming real soon.

 

[KrisH]

there are warnings in many posts, but no one can warn you effectively. fuzzy butt drugs.

RobertH

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Chicks should definitely come with a warning!!! As for the peanuts, yes, they are extra chicks added for warmth. Typically extra cockerels (you know, all they ones they have left over after they sell the pullets). I've never ordered from Cackle, but when I ordered from Ideal they said they would have no way of knowing what my peanuts would be only that they would be different from the chicks I ordered. Here are my peanuts:

Production red cockerels, I think. Good luck with all of your new babies!

 

[BigOJoe]

oh well whats a few more feathered friends

it will be fun trying to figure out what they might be and having to wait till they mature to know for sure, not a lot different than when i bought chicks from the farm supply.