Please! Hatchery that sells sexed Bantam chicks!

[pederslilfarm]

I would like to buy female ONLY Bantam chicks - i've tried McMurray & Welp and they only sell straight run. I've built a chicken coup on one side of my deck (where the table/chairs go - perfect for conversation!) for about a dozen chickens who will be free ranging during the day but I only want 1 rooster because I don't want them to be competing or fighting.

Anyone know of a hatchery that sells sexed Bantams??? I will really appreciate your help!!!
thanks, Susie

 

[conny63malies]

Cackle hatchery has a way where you can order some female bantams, its quite expensive though.

 

[keesmom]

Cackle hatchery has a way where you can order some female bantams, its quite expensive though.

Their site says straight run only.

My Pet Chicken does offer sexed pullets for an additional cost of $8 per chick. They have limited bantams available.

 

[conny63malies]

Their site says straight run only.

My Pet Chicken does offer sexed pullets for an additional cost of $8 per chick. They have limited bantams available.

MPC is not a hatchery, they are drop shippers. Cackle does have a bantam pullet deal. Just look at the bantam assort tap, its the second from he top.

 

[keesmom]

MPC is not a hatchery, they are drop shippers. Cackle does have a bantam pullet deal. Just look at the bantam assort tap, its the second from he top.

Yes I know they are drop shippers.

I missed the assortment as I just looked at specific breeds. If you don't care what breeds you get then the assortment will be a good option.

 

[conny63malies]

Yes I know they are drop shippers.

I missed the assortment as I just looked at specific breeds. If you don't care what breeds you get then the assortment will be a good option.

I figured you did. Chances are that Cackle hatches and ships for MPC anyways.

 

[keesmom]

I figured you did. Chances are that Cackle hatches and ships for MPC anyways.

It didn't help that I was looking at Cackle's site on my phone. All that teeny tiny print. It is easy to miss things, though I'm sure would have missed the assorted bantam pullet option even on a PC. All of the bantam breed pages say "straight run only". Oh well, now I know better.

 

[DeGarmom]

I know that the hatcheries don't like to sex bantams for a myriad of reasons, but I have been the victim of buying 5 chicks and having them all be roosters, more than once. These might help:

If you find a local hardware store, feed store, or local breeder/ neighbor where they have bantam varieties, you can try one of two things to improve your chances of getting the gender you desire:

If you can see them within a day or 2 of hatch, see if the clerk/breeder is willing to "flip the chick" (or let you). Cradling the chick in the palm of one hand , place the other had on the chick's back, with forefinger one side of chick's neck, remaining fingers on other to support the chick, gently turn it over belly up (Straight back, not side over ) Effectively you are transferring the chick into the palm of the other hand. (Hang on, they will wiggle!) Be sure to keep fingers and hands away from it's feet. If the chick pulls both feet in towards it's abdomen, there is a good chance of it being a pullet. If it immediately sticks ONE foot out into the air, it's likely a rooster. THIS IS NOT GUARANTEED but it generally works well for me (and a few other chicken people I know.)

If the chicks are a few days old the first method is far less accurate, but generally at that age the last 3 or 4 feathers on the wingtip will be markedly longer than feathers closer to the elbow on most males, where the tips of the wings on females tend to grow out more evenly. Again, NOT GUARANTEED, but accurate enough to share with cursory disclaimers.

Hope that helps. I only know that if someone had shown me these things a long time ago my life with chickens would have been a LOT less stressful!

 

[littlekatzz]

Cackle is now offering sexed bantams ..I noticed it earlier today when I was ordering another surprise assortment. But I think it was something like $10 a chick, for that price I'll take my chances with straight run

 

[pederslilfarm]

thank you all for your help I really appreciate it! Tell me what do you do with all the extra roosters if you get a straight run? You cannot serve them at the table can you?
Susie