Let’s Be Honest About Buying Hens 🐓
I’m going to be a little more blunt here, because I’d rather you have the truth than a sales pitch.
We do not sell pullets, laying hens, or just female chicks, and that’s intentional.
Why Are Hens Usually Sold?
Most hens and pullets you see being sold fall into one of a few categories:
❌ Culls (didn’t make the cut for breeding or production)
📦 Abandoned projects (“I decided not to continue this line”)
💸 Backyard reality checks (those eggs ended up being the most expensive eggs ever 😅)
⚠️ Various other reasons (bullies, health issues, or birds that just didn’t work out in a flock)
None of that makes them bad birds, but it does mean there’s usually a reason they’re leaving.
A Breeder’s Perspective
From a breeder standpoint, your best hens are your program.
You don’t sell your top producers… you build around them.
How We Do Things at Blue Ribbon Creek
🐣 Chicks are straight run 99.9% of the time
🐓 Roosters may be available occasionally during grow-outs
🏡 Hens & pullets stay here doing their job
The Truth About “Ready-to-Lay”
If you’re looking for instant eggs, I get it. It’s tempting to skip the waiting stage.
Just know that “ready-to-lay” doesn’t always mean “long-term productive.” Sometimes it means birds that are a bit older, not laying as consistently as expected, or ones that may have health or temperament quirks that didn’t work out in their previous setup.
Why Starting with Chicks Matters
If you want a flock you truly know and trust, chicks are the way to go.
There’s a little patience involved (about 4–6 months), but that time matters. You’re not just waiting… you’re raising them.
You get to:
- Watch them grow
- Learn their personalities
- Shape how they interact with you
Want sweet, friendly birds? You’ve got to handle them.
Want them to come running when you call? That takes time and consistency.
The flock you end up with reflects the time you put in, and that’s something you can’t buy already grown.