Puffin Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Hi, Having lost a chicken recently we are looking to get some more. My son is desperate to hatch eggs and have chicks but having read a lot of the topics on this forum I don't think I could cope - I am far too squeamish if there were problems and then there are the boys to think of. But I have seen some poultry suppliers will also sell young chicks. Obviously you still need some of the equipment etc but has anyone any experience of buying chicks and then rearing them? Is it a good idea or best avoided? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-a-doodle-doo Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I know some breeders sell day old chicks. I myself would wait a few days, not sure yet maybe even a week before selling any. You would need the heating equipment and you may still get a boy chick, either by unscrupulous breeders or inexperienced. Make sure your research how long they would need to be under heat and when to move them out. Good luck if you decide to go ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 If you go for autosexing breeds like Legbars then you can tell what sex they are at a day old, most other breeds its usually a few weeks before you can tell unless the breeder has a good sexer. If you do decide to go ahead you will still need a brooder, heat lamp, chick crumb etc. but the stickys on the Hatching & Chicks thread are brilliant plus you will have lots of help and support from the wise ones on here. I found their knowledge invaluable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 unless you get autosexed breeds as Sandie says you will still be stuck with the problem of having cockerels, some breeds can be sexed earlier than others but I would stress that this is where you need to have complete trust in your breeder Too many boy chicks are fobbed off on unsuspecting people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I think it best avoided unless you feel able to commit totally to it, ie dealing pragmatically with any problem chicks, failed hatches and unwanted cockerels. The equipment can be quite expensive, and tbh your first few attempts can be dissapointing as you get used to the equipment and so on. I would suggest that you get a couple or three point of lay hens instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffin Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 Yes I have decided that we will not hatch eggs, as I don't think I am quite ready for that - although maybe in the future I might be! Thanks for all your advice, Legbars was one of the breeds I was interested in, I don't really want day old chicks, just young enough to give my son some sense of them being babies... however we may still go down the POL route - we have previously got POL hens from Merrydale Poultry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I've bought in day old chicks that were even sexed from Craeg Mhor Poultry ( they have a website). Lovely things they turned out to be too. You would need a brooder & keep them under heat though. However, have you thought about buying some P.O.L pekins or Silkies? These breeds are cute & baby like even when they are grown up. Ideal for children. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffin Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 I am wary of getting anything too exotic as our Poland chicken (Polly) got bullied and had to be re-homed, also we have a killer Bengal cat who is scared of the chickens but I would worry about anything smaller... he kills rabbits and has had a partridge before. The chicks obviously would have to be well protected from him as well! The kids cuddle our existing chickens quite happily and my son is particularly good with them. Basically this all started when his school had an incubator and hatched the eggs, they got it from some company that loaned the incubator and provided the eggs and everything and then took the chicks back when they were a week old, and ever since then he has wanted chicks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Many breeds with a single 'straight up' comb are easy to sex young - Marans, Sussex, Welsummers for example, you can normally tell the girls from the boys at around 3-5 weeks if you see them all together they are easy to compare. Orpingtons can be tricky to sex though Birds with rose combs are harder 6-10 weeks being more usual but then experienced breeders will be more used to seeing them young so will be more adept as deciding In general birds with walnut, pea and horned combs are quite tricky to sex Pekins though 'exotic looking' are actually pretty feisty and hold their own well - they wont have the same vision issues that Polly had, they are one of the easiest birds to sex young too I cannot stress enough that trusting your breeder in this situation is paramount Where roughly are you? someone may well be able to recommend a breeder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffin Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 Thanks - we are on the lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border - on the A1 in fact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Ok I thought the name of that Poland rang a bell - I believe you know Em (Falkor) then? Em has a friend also called Emma who breeds cream Legbars, she has some of the best around so its worth exploring that if you are looking for Cream Legbars, Emma also breeds Pekins too and I am not sure if she might have other breeds as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Yep that Polly is my Polly Pom Pom Little escape artist extrodinaire! I know Em had some Marans last year but not sure what she has now, I will be seeing her soon so can ask. Her Cream Legbars are stunning! Let my know if you want more info Puffin and I will put you in touch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffin Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 I would definitely be interested in the Legbars, I am in no hurry - we are away for two weeks at the end of May so would probably be looking to get them after that so that i don't need to worry about them whilst we are away. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffin Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 Right we are back from holiday and the kids are demanding to know when we can get the chicks!. I use the work "chicks" lightly as I want them to be big enough to go outside in the eglu. I am hoping to get some cream legbars. So some questions before I go searching. Any ideas how old they need to be to go outside at this time of year? I also assume you need to remove the roosting bars? At this age will they still need chick crumb or something different? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Right we are back from holiday and the kids are demanding to know when we can get the chicks!. I use the work "chicks" lightly as I want them to be big enough to go outside in the eglu. I am hoping to get some cream legbars. So some questions before I go searching.Any ideas how old they need to be to go outside at this time of year? about 7 weeks I also assume you need to remove the roosting bars? yes At this age will they still need chick crumb or something different? They will be just going on to growers pellets at 7 weeks Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 If you have a broody can you put say 4-5 day old chicks in with her for her to foster ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 They need to be one or two days old to stand a good chance sorry you can try with older chicks but need a back up plan if it doesnt work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
