Hi Elizabeth, Yours is not an unusual story. One thing about buying from the local feed store is they they are at least alive when you get them. If you are lucky someone at the store knowns a chicken from a seagull but it ain't likely. If you can the person who ordered them from the hatchery you might be able to find out what they are. Most feed stores will carry at least one sex-link such as Comets, Red or Black Stars. or some other easily sexed pullet. Straight run are much cheaper than pullets. Of course some stores will charge the same price. They make more money that way.
Purebred vs mixed breed: In the late 1800's Charles Darwin, yep, same guy, listed all the known breeds of chickens and where they came from. There were 18 different breeds. He actually did a fairly decent job. Now there are hundreds of breeds. Most of them came from cross breeding. That makes almost all of them MUTTS. Unless you are into Heritage breeds what's the big deal? Modern chickens are usually better at egg production, meat, and temperament. The old breeds are important for preserving the gene pool but can be disappointing as producers. Personally, I like a mixed flock, all the same kind is boring.
Temperament is tricky. Some breed "tend" to be more aggressive by nature but the individual chickens can be mild or not. True Rhode Island Reds, an endangered breed for good reason, are noted for their aggressive nature. The chicks are known for killing each other.
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate that is the question. I guess that's up to the individual. Just don't feed medicated feed to vaccinated chicks.
Ol' George
--- In CHICKENS-101@
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> I wrote earlier this spring that I was having a terrible time keeping my chickens alive. I keep reading that everyone goes to Tractor Supply and nearly buys all the chickens. I went to mine to replace the ones that I lost and when I asked what kind of chickens they were, I was told that "I don't know, some are white and some are red and they are straight run". I tried twice in two weeks with two different sales associates. Do other TSC's carry a more interesting assortment or at least one with a more interesting description?
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> Our current coop has two red, one buff, one naked neck, two black and white, one white and one black. I told my husband that in my next coop I want a rooser and I want all the same breed. He doesn't agree. What are the ups and downs of purebred chickens vs. mixed breed?
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> I bought three Americunas from the feed store, they are from Ideal. They are completely different in temperment from the McMurray chickens and they appear to be much hardier. Ideal does not recommend getting the chicks vaccinated for small flocks. Any idea why?
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> Elizabeth
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CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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