What is a Straight Run Chicken?

Are you getting ready to order some baby chicks for your homestead, but unsure about what terminology like “straight run chicks” means? Don’t worry, in this post we’ll explain the difference between straight run and sexed chicks so that you can make an informed decision.

What does “straight run” mean when it comes to chickens?

​If chickens are being sold “straight run,” this simply means that the sex of the chicks is unknown, and you’ll receive both male and female chicks.

Chickens, on average, hatch in a roughly 50/50 female to male split, so any batch of straight run chicks you purchase will be a mix of males and females. The female to male ratio in any small group of chicks will most likely be around 50/50 but unlikely to be an exact split. Variations happen, especially in small sample sizes, so be prepared for anything.

​What are “sexed” chicks?

In large scale hatcheries, “sexed” chicks are assessed by a professional chicken sexer (yes, this is a real job) who is trained to rapidly determine if a chick is male or female.

The job requires extensive training and experience. An experienced chick sexer can sex 1,000 chicks per hour with 98% accuracy. 

Vent sexing is the most common method used. Since the exterior genitalia of male and female chickens is identical, vent sexing requires the sexer to squeeze the chicks’ butt briefly for a glimpse into the bird’s vent to determine its sex. Because of this, there is a slight risk that the chick will be injured in the process.

It’s important to note that at most if not all large scale hatcheries, male chicks are culled after sexing due to lack of demand for them. This is typically done by maceration, gassing, or suffocation. You can learn more in this post about why we recommend buying straight run chickens.

What are the pros and cons of buying straight run or sexed chicks?

Straight run chicks

Pros:

• Can be easier to find than sexed chicks, especially from small scale breeders
• Roosters can be grown out for protection, breeding, or meat
• No chick culling involved

Cons:

• Local ordinances may not allow roosters, or flock keepers may not want them
• Harder to plan for ultimate flock size
• Need to purchase more birds overall to achieve desired laying flock size

Sexed chicks

Pros:

• No need to raise, rehome, or process extra roosters
• May be necessary if your local laws prohibit roosters

Cons:

• Chick culling, of course
• May limit your breed choices
• Often not available from small scale breeders

Whether you go with straight run or sexed chicks really depends on your flock goals, local laws, and personal preferences.

So, should you choose straight run or sexed chicks?

If you’re thinking of choosing straight run chicks, here are some questions to consider first:

What are my local laws? 

Are roosters permitted on properties of your size and type? Are your neighbors good with a little background noise? Are you in a right to farm community?

For questions about local laws, call your local health or zoning department to learn more.

Am I ready to handle the responsibility of roosters? 

Don’t count on being able to rehome any extra roosters with others. If you buy straight run, have a plan in advance for roosters you won’t be able to keep. 

If you decide to keep roosters in your flock, we recommend no more than one rooster for every 10-20 hens in order to have a peaceful flock. 

Beyond that, you may need to process (aka eat) any additional male birds once they reach maturity. 

What’s my budget? What are my priorities?

While straight run chicks are usually slightly cheaper per chick, you need to purchase more birds overall in order to end up with the same amount of laying hens. When you also factor in feed and the work to raise those birds, straight run chicks aren’t really cheaper, but they have additional benefits, especially if you’d like to keep a rooster or two in your flock or support small scale breeders.

In Conclusion

Truly, there are major pros and cons to choosing sexed or straight run chicks. Ultimately, you need to choose what makes sense for you and your flock, while considering your neighbors and local ordinances, too! 

For those of you who have already started your flock, did you go with straight run or sexed chicks, and how did it go?