What to do with packing peanuts???

[Eggcessive]

Do they not offer to put a heat pack in with smaller orders since you have to pay for insurance if you refuse extra chicks? Meyer Hatcher in Ohio puts heat packs in with small orders. Of course shipping is more that way, but if you order 25 the shipping is low.

 

[Remudamom]

I advertise on Craigslist the week before and keep a list of names and numbers in case someone can't at the last moment. I usually have a list with about six names or more, and my packing peanuts are gone immediately. I barely have time to give them a drink and food before they have been picked up.

 

[aoxa]

I advertise on Craigslist the week before and keep a list of names and numbers in case someone can't at the last moment.  I usually have a list with about six names or more, and my packing peanuts are gone immediately.  I barely have time to give them a drink and food before they have been picked up.

Yes, but are they silkie roosters? Silkies generally aren't eaten around here due to their bone/skin colour and how long it takes them to mature for the amount of meat you end up getting.

I would buy silkie roos, but not from a hatchery.

 

[ChickenLVR]

Are they silkie chicks?
Because from my understanding, silkies are always sold as straight run.. Or am I wrong? If the packing peanuts are silkies, you COULD get females.

The 8 I ordered are silkie chicks, the packing peanuts aren't. Not sure what they are, but definitely a breed that can be sexed this early

 

[ChickenLVR]

Do they not offer to put a heat pack in with smaller orders since you have to pay for insurance if you refuse extra chicks?  Meyer Hatcher in Ohio puts heat packs in with small orders.  Of course shipping is more that way, but if you order 25 the shipping is low.

I am going to ask if they can do this for me. That seems like the perfect solution!

 

[Oregon Blues]

You know about not counting your chickens before they are hatched? I would not arrange for homes to take them before they arrived, because you don't know how many you will get.

It's rare, but sometimes pullets go out as packing peanuts. If the hatchery has female chicks it can't sell, they will go out. Chicks must ship. They can't hold them , hoping a buyer will show up.

 

[Eddy Chicken]

And yours arrived safely? I emailed yesterday and told them not to do the packing peanuts, but now I am worried my chicks wont make it alive...

Mine all arrived safely. Don't worry, they'll be fine.

 

[chloezoebob101]

yes...but who wants male chicks???

lots of people! some people, like us, like to use them for meat... too bad were too far away or sell them one by one for people who want them as flock leaders. good luck getting them gone. and I've always wondered if u have to pay for the packing peanuts or if you just get them to reach the minimumal purchase.

 

[GardeNerd]

I agree with what some of the others said, "raise them all until you know they crow or list them for free on craiglist." If you keep them, you might get a great egg laying pullet or two out of 15 chicks. The sexers are only 90% accurate anyway.

I live in an very urban area where roosters are prohibited in pretty much every city around. Never the less, with every cockerel I have had, someone has been willing to take it. I normally list them for free on craigslist.

 

[hdowden]

you sure your getting that many packing peanuts? most hatchries dont send extra chicks with small orders like that...

Hi everyone!
I need some advice! I have 8 silkie chicks coming from ideal next week to start our very first little backyard flock! The problem is, along with those 8 silkies will be 15-16 packing peanuts...and I am not sure what to do with them. That seems like an aweful lot. I definitely cannot keep them all (or really, any of them, especially once they begin to crow) I also know some of my silkies are likely to be males as well, so I will be needing to find them a new home at some point too...anyone have any advice on what to do with them? I cannot possibly kill sweet baby chicks...especially 16 of them. I would feel like some sort of crazed murderer. What is the most humane way to kill them anyway? ugh...I so didnt count on this being a part of our chicken experience! I know I can just get the insurance on the package and not have the packing peanuts, but I am worried my 8 would be in danger without them (hence the need for insurance...) Whats a chicken lover to do???

Thanks all!