Chickie'sMomaInNH
Garden Master
Cackle has a small package for in-town i think that is something like 5 chicks from certain sexed breeds.
Buff Orphintons Going Broody
- Thread starter ninnymary
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bj taylor
Garden Ornament
my experience w/buffs is limited. I have three. one is a half breed. she came to me from a guy who said she sat on unfertilized eggs for close to a month before they intervened. I've had her for about 9 months & she hasn't gone broody yet. my oldest buff (buffy) is the only chicken I've had to go broody (I've only had chickens for 1 1/2 yr). out of many, she only successfully hatched two (they're alive & well today). she nearly killed herself sitting on those eggs. her two babies are about 5 months old now & she's showing no sign of going broody again - yet. my third buff is a young pullet & I can't say about her yet.
it is valuable to me to have at least one chicken that will go broody for me. so I have no objection so far.
I think buffs are an important part of a self sustaining flock.
it is valuable to me to have at least one chicken that will go broody for me. so I have no objection so far.
I think buffs are an important part of a self sustaining flock.
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ninnymary
Garden Master
Thanks Chickies, unfortunately that in town special does not include the wellsummer. That's another one that I want. 
Mary
Mary
Chickie'sMomaInNH
Garden Master
the only thing i would suggest is calling to place your order and see if they will switch one out with the wellsummer for you. you never know if they'd be willing to do that for someone if you talk to them directly. when i bought from them a 4 years ago i tried ordering their Salmon Faverolles but they didn't have enough for hatching just before my order was to ship. so they asked if i would mind switching to one of the other sexed breeds. they were really nice about it and switched out for light brahmas.
all this talk about getting a new breed has me looking at hatching eggs and Cackle's website
must look away! no new breeds to add to my flock! 
all this talk about getting a new breed has me looking at hatching eggs and Cackle's website
must look away! no new breeds to add to my flock! 
Ridgerunner
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Mary, Im not giving you any guarantees that Cackles Speckled Sussex or Buff Orps will not go broody. I only kept one Speckled Sussex and two Buff Orps hens for two years and they did not go broody. Thats not really a scientific statistically representative sample. With those numbers there is a lot of luck involved.
I called Cackle when I had my order in. They were kinda hard to get on the phone but when I finally did they were pretty nice people to work with. I agree with ChickiesMoma a phone call doesnt hurt.
I looked at Cackles site. They are sold out of a lot so you might be talking about next springs order. Plus that is a lot of money for a few chicks, over $50. I dont want any hatchery chicks that bad. You might post in your state thread in the Where am I? Where are you! section, (or your section of California state thread. They have a few) and find someone local that would be willing to split an order with you. The possible downside to that is that you have to deal with a stranger. Some people are nice and then you have others.
Another option is to talk to the person that orders the chicks at your feed store. Find out which hatchery they order their chicks from and if they are willing to make a special order for you so you can take advantage of them meeting the minimums. Some will and some wont. Mine wont. But different Tractor Supplies order from different hatcheries and have different policies. You really need to talk to the person at your local feed store that does the ordering to know what that individual stores policies are.
I wish I could be more definite for you but I really think it is pure luck if a specific individual hen goes broody or not. Its tied up in their genetics. Id love to have enough hens go broody so I never have to fire up my incubator again. By hatching eggs from hens that go broody for replacement pullets Im getting there, but its a slow unsure process.
I called Cackle when I had my order in. They were kinda hard to get on the phone but when I finally did they were pretty nice people to work with. I agree with ChickiesMoma a phone call doesnt hurt.
I looked at Cackles site. They are sold out of a lot so you might be talking about next springs order. Plus that is a lot of money for a few chicks, over $50. I dont want any hatchery chicks that bad. You might post in your state thread in the Where am I? Where are you! section, (or your section of California state thread. They have a few) and find someone local that would be willing to split an order with you. The possible downside to that is that you have to deal with a stranger. Some people are nice and then you have others.
Another option is to talk to the person that orders the chicks at your feed store. Find out which hatchery they order their chicks from and if they are willing to make a special order for you so you can take advantage of them meeting the minimums. Some will and some wont. Mine wont. But different Tractor Supplies order from different hatcheries and have different policies. You really need to talk to the person at your local feed store that does the ordering to know what that individual stores policies are.
I wish I could be more definite for you but I really think it is pure luck if a specific individual hen goes broody or not. Its tied up in their genetics. Id love to have enough hens go broody so I never have to fire up my incubator again. By hatching eggs from hens that go broody for replacement pullets Im getting there, but its a slow unsure process.
canesisters
Garden Master
I have 2 speckled sussex (best breed ever!) and they both went broody right at 1 year old. They shared setting and brooding until the chicks got about 2 weeks old. Then one lost interest and went back to the flock.
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ninnymary
Garden Master
Ridgerunner, yes it seems that ordering a few chicks online is very expensive. But I've bought chicks for $15 locally (that's if you want to call driving for an hour locally). I won't do that again. It seems that even My Pet Chicken is expensive.
All of the feed stores are about an hour's drive. I don't mind that so much since their chicks are around $4.99 each. I may try to get all 4 different breeds from several of them if possible. Would if matter if the chicks were a couple weeks apart? I'm trying to raise them all together so that hopefully they will get along better.
I don't mind a hen going broody once a year. That is doable for me. I just don't want them going broody every 2 months!
Any thoughts?
Mary
All of the feed stores are about an hour's drive. I don't mind that so much since their chicks are around $4.99 each. I may try to get all 4 different breeds from several of them if possible. Would if matter if the chicks were a couple weeks apart? I'm trying to raise them all together so that hopefully they will get along better.
I don't mind a hen going broody once a year. That is doable for me. I just don't want them going broody every 2 months!
Any thoughts?
Mary
Ridgerunner
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Would it matter if the chicks are a couple of weeks apart in age? I cant give you a clear answer. Probably not, especially if they have a reasonable amount of room in the brooder. They are living animals. They dont come with guarantees on behavior or anything else.
Earlier this year I had a broody that was really laidback about her chicks. She let them wander all over, mixing in with the other adults. It just wasnt a problem. The only time an adult pecked at a chick was when that chick became annoying, getting in real close to that hens personal space and staying there. Then a quick peck sent the chick back to Mama. No harm done. Id have pecked that annoying chick too.
Earlier this year I had a chick kill one of its hatchmates, both just under two weeks old. I assume it was the same chick that attacked and tried to kill two other hatchmates at separate times. Mama just watched and did not try to stop it. The first time I saw it attack a chick it injured the chick. I separated the wounded chick overnight then let if back out with Mama and the others. No further problems with it. The next time I saw that chick attack a different sibling, I locked the attacker in isolation overnight. There havent been any further problems but I assure you that attacker is the first that goes in the freezer when they reach proper age. Thats still two months away.
I could give other examples of chicks being attacked or not being attacked. There are no guarantees either way. If it were me trying it, Id make the brooder fairly big and separate it so you can house them side by side for a week or so, then try letting them together. That way the younger are more mobile and they are used to being together. I think youll be OK, but I cant give you any guarantees even if they are exactly the same age.
If you are getting them from separate places, make sure they are not coming from the same hatchery. Otherwise you are defeating your purpose and may as we get them from the same place.
Earlier this year I had a broody that was really laidback about her chicks. She let them wander all over, mixing in with the other adults. It just wasnt a problem. The only time an adult pecked at a chick was when that chick became annoying, getting in real close to that hens personal space and staying there. Then a quick peck sent the chick back to Mama. No harm done. Id have pecked that annoying chick too.
Earlier this year I had a chick kill one of its hatchmates, both just under two weeks old. I assume it was the same chick that attacked and tried to kill two other hatchmates at separate times. Mama just watched and did not try to stop it. The first time I saw it attack a chick it injured the chick. I separated the wounded chick overnight then let if back out with Mama and the others. No further problems with it. The next time I saw that chick attack a different sibling, I locked the attacker in isolation overnight. There havent been any further problems but I assure you that attacker is the first that goes in the freezer when they reach proper age. Thats still two months away.
I could give other examples of chicks being attacked or not being attacked. There are no guarantees either way. If it were me trying it, Id make the brooder fairly big and separate it so you can house them side by side for a week or so, then try letting them together. That way the younger are more mobile and they are used to being together. I think youll be OK, but I cant give you any guarantees even if they are exactly the same age.
If you are getting them from separate places, make sure they are not coming from the same hatchery. Otherwise you are defeating your purpose and may as we get them from the same place.
