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- #11
curiouseclectic
Chirping
Thanks, I will definitely educate myself a bit more if I go the pullet route. Interesting about your Ameraucanas! Always good to hear someones lived experience with a breed.I, on the other hand, recommend going with started pullets. I raise and sell 100's of started pullets just for people in your situation. You can't take the chance of ending up with a cockerel plus in the long run, it is cheaper as you aren't investing in all the supplies to raise chicks on a casual basis.
First thing first. Educate yourself about the breeds you are interested in. Even by 10 weeks, a beginner should be able to identify some cockerel traits to where you lessen the chance of taking one home. There are plenty of snakes out there passing off cockerels as pullets so spend the time looking at pictures of chicks at different ages. Pullets and cockerels side by side. Feathering (yes, the fancy pretty ones tend to be the boys), body stance, size, legs, combs and waddles, the "look", are all things to look at. Trust your gut with both the seller and the chicken. Going with autosexing breeds can simplify things but you must know what the sexes look like. 99% of home breeders do not know how to sex chickens past the autosexing ones at hatch so they are sold straight run not something to deal with. Hatcheries average 90%+ accuracy in sexing so there is still a chance of ending up with a boy. I average less than 3% boys.
Ameraucana have not proven to be great layers for me. Best case I get 4/week.
There are a few hatcheries who sell started pullets. I suspect they will be in short supply this year as the hatcheries are able to sell everything they hatch. Also consider shipping will average $100/bird as they go priority overnight. Add the cost of the pullet and it pushes her to $125+.
Finally the best reason to go with started pullets when you are not planning on getting them until fall is not having to wait until spring for eggs.