Why no older hens?

[newbie32]

Why don't any of the hatcheries sale 8 week old or larger hens?

 

[gryeyes]

Chicks don't need to eat for three days after hatching, so they can be much more safely shipped with little or no loss.

Hatcheries don't have to feed them, either - they hatch, they're packed into boxes as soon as they hatch and have been sexed.

Some hatcheries DO offer "started pullets" but it's so much more expensive to ship birds than chicks. The cost per bird is higher, as they have to be fed, watered, and housed until they are sold.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

McMurray sells 4 week olds.

 

[newbie32]

Chicks don't need to eat for three days after hatching, so they can be much more safely shipped with little or no loss.

Hatcheries don't have to feed them, either - they hatch, they're packed into boxes as soon as they hatch and have been sexed.

Some hatcheries DO offer "started pullets" but it's so much more expensive to ship birds than chicks. The cost per bird is higher, as they have to be fed, watered, and housed until they are sold.

Oh I didn't know new born chicks don't need food for 3 days. Well I don't want to pay for chicks that end up being Roosters and I don't want to buy a hen from just anyone that can possibly have disease. Plus I can not find a 8-12 weeks old buff orp anywhere close

 

[newbie32]

McMurray sells 4 week olds.

Yeah but that is not old enough to properly identify gender

 

[Kelsie2290]

McMurray (and other hatcheries) also sell started pullets at 15-22 weeks, and McMurray sells 4 week olds (4-9 weeks actually) but as gryeyes said, the shipping is going to be quite expensive compared to shipping day old chicks.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

All of the commercial hatcheries that I am aware of sell sexed chicks if you want them. Pullet chicks cost more, cockerel chicks are cheap. The industry standard guarantee is a 90% accuracy rate.

Some hatcheries do sell started pullets, but you'll find the shipping is prohibitive relative to what it costs to ship chicks. Then there is the additional expense of raising the birds to sale age.

 

[newbie32]

I know that the sexed chicks are supposed to be 90% accurate, but I also know many people buy 10 chicks or so and get 6 roosters! I am NOT going to be able to rehome a rooster out here. Yes I could eat them but I would just prefer to have a pullet. I have seen a few hatcheries that have 4 week olds-not old enough. Mccmurrey does not sell them old enough and the shipping is pathetic-oh well I guess I will keep hunting for my buff orps

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You might be better off looking for the birds you want locally even if you have to drive out of your way. You can get started pullets and some backyard breeders are willing to sell chicks with a rooster guarantee that will let you trade in if it turns out to be a roo. Each option has its pros and cons -- you just have to decide which is more inconvenient for you.

 

[Kelsie2290]

If you are looking for older started pullets, look under Juvenile Birds on the hatchery pages. McMurray for instance does carry 15-22 week old started pullets.