Usually ranch and rural living involves open-spaces and the great outdoors. And where there are horses and livestock, many times there is some type of poultry nearby, - often used for egg and meat production, pest control, snake deterrants, backyard hobbist, organic growers, chick production or just simply ornamental yard art. Chickens are a great way to recycle your leftover food waste into a valuable resource of farm fresh eggs and meat.
We raise the following breeds of poultry for their hardiness in our high desert climates and their productivity as dual purpose birds (both egg laying and meat capable).
We do not ship baby chicks. It is strickly pick up only at this time. Most chicks are sold as straight run (unsexed). We do have Red Sex-Link (Red Star) pullet (female) chicks. If you are looking for pullet chicks in the other breeds we raise, we would suggest you purchase our older feathered chicks.
The following poultry will be available for 2012:
STANDARD BREEDS:
~ New Hampshire Reds, ~ Red Sex-Links (Red Stars), ~ Easter-Eggers (Ameraucanas),
~ Silver-Laced Wyandottes, ~ 3 color varieties of Giant Cochin (Blue, Black and Splash),
~ Cuckoo Marans, ~ White Crested Black Polish, ~ Dark Rhode Island Reds (limited supply)
TURKEYS: ~ Blue Slate, ~ Royal Palms, ~ Bourbon Reds and ~ Spanish Black.
~~ Broad-Breasted Turkeys will be available in limited supply.
DUCKS: ~ Crested Ducklings, ~ Muscovy Ducklings, assorted duckling breeds, when available...
GUINEAS: French Keets (chicks)
PRICES
1 wk old 2 wks old 3 wks old
New Hampshire Reds (straight run - unsexed) $2.00 ea $2.50 ea $3.00 ea
Silver-Laced Wyandottes (straight run - unsexed) $2.00 ea $2.50 ea $3.00 ea
Older chicks - call for pricing & availability
Fertile Hatching Eggs available - $1.50 ea.
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1 wk old 2 wks old 3 wks old
Easter-Eggers (Ameraucanas) $2.25 ea $2.75 ea $3.25 ea
(straight run - unsexed)
Standard Cochin (straight run - unsexed) $2.25 ea $2.75 ea $3.25 ea
(Blue, Black and Splash varieties)
Polish (White Crested Black) $2.25 ea $2.75 ea $3.25 ea
(straight run - unsexed)
Dark Rhode Island Reds (Limited Supply) $2.25 ea $2.75 ea $3.25 ea
(straight run - unsexed)
Fertile Hatching Eggs available - $1.75 ea.
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1 wk old 2 wks old 3 wks old
Cuckoo Marans (straight run - unsexed) $3.00 ea $3.25 ea $3.50 ea
Red Sexlink Pullets (female) $3.00 ea $3.25 ea $3.50 ea
Red Sexlink Cockerals (males) $1.00 ea $1.25 ea $1.50 ea
Fertile Hatching Eggs available - $2.50 ea.
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1 wk old 2 wks old 3 wks old
Bantams (straight run - unsexed) $3.50 ea $4.00 ea $4.50 ea
Spangled Old English, Rosecomb, Silkies
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Turkey Poults (chicks) - start at $8.75 ea
Ducklings - Crested Ducklings - prices start at $5.00 ea
Muscovy Ducklings - prices start at $10.00 ea
Assorted Breed Duckling (when available) - prices start at $4.50 ea
Guinea Keets (chicks) - French Pearl - prices start at $4.75 ea
Sorry, we do not 'hold' chicks. Chicks are sold on a "first come, first serve" basis.
BREED DESCRIPTIONS BELOW (after pricing)
Red Stars (Red Sex-Links):
Sex-links are cross-bred chickens whose color at
hatching is differentiated by sex, thus making chick
sexing an easier process. Sex-links come in many
varieties, few of which are a true breed. As hybrids
of laying or dual-purpose breeds infused with extra vigor via heterosis, sex-links can be extremely good BROWN egg-layers which often produce 300 eggs a year or more depending on the quality of care and feed. They are easy to raise, lays large brown eggs, and have a good feed conversion ratio.
Two common varieties are the Black sex-link (also called Black Stars) and the Red sex-link (also called Red Stars) which is the type we raise.
RED STARS: These hens will mature with feathers that are reddish brown with flecks of white throughout. The males are all white with nice yellow skin. (They will not retain the same characteristics in future.) At approximately 22 weeks these hens will start to lay and are very prolific layers that lay eggs right through hot or cold weather.
Sex-links are a good choice for ensuring you receive only female hens for sure. Generally sex-links are considered to be a friendly breed if raised properly (like all chickens of course).
The Wyandotte is an American breed. Silver Laced Wyandottes were developed in New York State in the early 1870s and were admitted into the Standard in 1883. The other varieties accepted in the American Standard of Perfection are the Golden Laced, White, Black, Buff, Columbian, Partridge and Silver Penciled.
Layers of good-sized brown eggs and reaching a weight in the males of 8 1/2 pounds, Wyandottes are good dual purpose birds, especially the White and Silver Laced varieties which have been bred for utility, as well as for show.
Beginning in about 1915, this dual purpose breed was developed in New Hampshire from a foundation stock from a strain of Rhode Island Red. Recognized as a distinct breed in 1935. These birds were selected for early maturing and large brown eggs.
If you wish for a bird that matures early, lays good, and is of heavy weight, then New Hampshire Red is what you're looking for.
Easter Eggers (Some people still call them "Amerauanas"):
There is much confusion about Araucanas, Ameraucanas and Easter-Egger Chickens. Hopefully, we will attempt to explain the difference between the birds so that you become more educated and know what you are actually getting.
ARAUCANAS are rumpless (tail-less) and ear-tufted birds from South America are very hard to find. They are known for laying blue eggs. (Reference information only. We DO NOT raise this breed)
AMERAUCANAS - The American Poultry Association recognizes a bird called the Ameraucana, which lays colored eggs and has muffs and a beard, not ear tufts, and comes in standardized color varieties.
EASTER-EGGERS - Most of the so-called "Araucanas" in the US are mixes that carry some of the original genes and lay variously colored eggs: blue, green, or pinkish. These birds are sometimes (and more honestly) sold as Easter Egg chickens. They come in white and many other colors.
What we raise more closely resembles the "Easter-Egger" chickens, than Ameraucanas. There will be some birds that have the exact characteristics of Ameraucanas, however, we do not guarantee these birds to be show quality. They will however, lay the blue to green to pinkish colored eggs that makes them a very popular and unique chicken. ** We will be hatching Pure WHITE Ameraucanas that will be able to be shown. ** (Check for availability.)
Cochins came to the US and England for the first time in about 1845, when they were known as Chinese Shanghai fowl. The first ones were a buff color and their size and thick soft feathering created quite a sensation, especially in England. The American Poultry Association recognizes Buff, Partridge, White, Black, Silver-laced, Golden-laced, Blue, Brown and Barred varieties.
One of the largest chickens, a full grown cock can reach 11 pounds, with the hens reaching 8 1/2 pounds. With their thick fluffy plumage, the birds look even larger. Their skin is yellow and they lay a brown egg. Although bred mostly for exhibition, they make a good meat bird. Cochins are usually very calm birds and easily made into pets. They are also excellent broodies.
Known in England as the Poland, this is the most popular of the crested breeds. It is also one of the oldest, being known as a pure breed as early as the sixteenth century. The Polish breed probably originated on the Continent, but nothing is truly known about its origins.
This ornamental, non-sitting breed lays a white-shelled egg. Its most prominent feature is the crest of feathers on the head. Note the more "umbrella-like" crest on the males and the powder-puff shape on the hens. It also has the large nostrils typical of crested breeds and a small V-comb. Many varieties occur, including White Crested Black, White, Golden, Silver, and Buff-laced. These can be either bearded or non-bearded.
Polish cocks weigh in at 6 pounds, while the hens only reach 4 1/2 pounds.
Polish - White Crested Black:
One of the best known breeds, the Rhode Island Red is a good layer of large brown eggs and as a dual purpose breed also can supply a fair-sized roaster. The hens will rarely go broody and can produce around 260 eggs per year.
Developed in Rhode Island in the 1830s, various breeds were used in their makeup, including Malays, Cochins and Brown Leghorns. The single combed variety was admitted to the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1904 and the rose combed birds a year later. The cock will weigh about 8 1/2 pounds and the hens run about one pound lighter.
This breed, which originated in western France in the town of Marans, is best known for its dark chocolate colored eggs. It is a fast grower and does well in damp areas, having been developed in a marshy portion of France. The original French birds have feathered legs, but this characteristic has been bred out of the British and many American lines. Cuckoo Marans (always with the 's' whether one bird or many) look a lot like a Barred Rock. Their claim to fame is their extremely dark brown eggs and they are often called 'Chocolate Eggers'.
The color difference between Cuckoo Marans and Barred Rocks? Marans feathers crossed throughout with irregular dark and light slate bars and the difference between the black and white bars is not as distinct as the Barred Rock. Barred Rocks have distinctive barred on each feather in a more uniform pattern. The Marans is not recognized by the American Poultry Association, although it is considered rare.
We would like to give special thanks to Feathersite.com for their information, photos and wealth of knowledge regarding all types of chickens and poultry.
We greatly appreciate your business and strive to make our customers happy. However, due to recent safety concerns from a couple customers AND for the health and safety of our chickens and poultry, we NO longer give tours of our ADULT chicken and poultry facilities to the public.
Thank you, Odyssey Ranch
All FERTILE Hatching Eggs can be shipped. No guarantees on hatching eggs as we have no control over hatching conditions and postal handling. We will package the eggs with the utmost care to prevent breakage.
We are open to the public 6 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. We are CLOSED on Wednesday. If these posted hours do not meet your schedule, please call us to make a special appointment.
POULTRY QUANTITY DISCOUNTS
1 - 12 birds............................................ Listed Price
13 - 47 birds............................................ $0.10 discount per bird off listed price
48 - 99 birds............................................ $0.20 discount per bird off listed price
100 or more............................................. $0.25 discount per bird off listed price
For More Information about Poultry, Please click
the link below to view our Chick Care Tips & Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section
Broad-breasted Bronze and Broad-breasted White Turkeys will also be available in limited quantities.
