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When starting a backyard flock, many people buy chicks and raise them into full-grown adult chickens. While this is an excellent way to start your backyard flock, it’s not the only way. You can also buy pullets.
Chicken pullets are female chickens under one year of age. They’re typically 6-9 weeks old when they’re shipped, and they are already fully feathered. Because they are older than typical chicks, there are many advantages to starting your backyard flock with them.
You won’t have to raise chicks
Raising chickens from chick to adult is hard work. Baby chicks are messy, expensive, and time-consuming to raise, and there’s no guarantee that they’ll all make it to adulthood. That’s why pullets are great for people who don’t want to spend the time, energy, and money to raise chicks. Pullets will still need love and care, but they won’t need 24/7 attention like chicks. Plus, you won’t have to spend money on equipment used only for chicks, and your pullets will be more likely to survive to adulthood than your chicks.
You’re less likely to get a rooster
Chicks are always sexed, but there is still the chance of a male chick winding up in your flock. Pullets, however, are sexed twice—once when they hatch and a second time when they’re six weeks old. As such, it’s far less likely for you to accidentally wind up with a rooster in your flock.
You’ll get fresh eggs sooner
Chickens start laying eggs at around 6 months of age. As a result, with chicks, you’ll have to spend a lot of time raising them before they start producing eggs. However, pullets are much closer to maturity. As such, you won’t have to wait as long before you start seeing eggs in the nesting boxes.
They’re great for beginners
When you’re just starting out your flock, you can be overwhelmed with everything you have to do. This feeling of overwhelm can be exacerbated when you know you have a collection of little chicks needing your constant attention. Pullets, then, are a better option for beginners as there is less risk and less responsibility in raising them.
At Chickens for Backyards, we have a variety of pullets in different breeds so you can choose the best ones for your backyard flock. Check out our online shop to get started!
