This is definitely true. I rarely go into TSC, but Rural King where I typically go has about 3 breeds of chicks per large bin. The people selling chicks at these locations aren't terribly knowledgeable, so I'm sure between ignorant customers and ignorant workers, mistakes are sometimes made.
Yup. There are a lot of breeds available and we are spoiled with having stores/hatcheries to have a good selection. 100 years ago, we would have just been happy to have some mixed-breed/barnyard-mix chickens. Now we can be a lot more picky, so it can be hard to find what you want from a...
Oh, I'd never go for a full 12. I have had 3-4 for 6 years, but decided I wanted more eggs, so I'm upgrading to 8 going forward. I consider them livestock (many consider them pets), so they normally "retire" after 3 years and I bring in a new generation.
I agree about the rooster, but the...
I live in a city on 1/4 acre and can keep up to 12 chickens including a rooster. I'd never have a rooster as the hens make enough noise and I'm trying to be a good neighbor. I'd be happy to breed/raise my own if I lived rurally. The one rooster I had was a very handsome boy, but he had to go...
Hello @Cammo77. I certainly can't speak for everyone in the US, but here is my take:
A large subset of backyard chicken owners live in cities or suburbs. Only a small percentage of people live in truly rural areas. Many of us don't even have roosters, so again only a smaller percentage of...