hen or rooster?

NatalieNovice

Hatching
Oct 31, 2015
3
0
7
Australia
Hello! We are new to chicken raising. We have had a flock of six since they were a week old. We are told that the black is an Australorp, that the three white are Australorp,and that the two reds are Isa Brown. We dont know if they are hens or roosters.

I would love your opinion if the breeds are correct or if you have an idea of whether they may be hens or roosters!

They are about 9 or 10 weeks now and I will try to attach some photos below,. Thanks!!!
 
welcome-byc.gif
Glad you joined us!

I'm afraid the photos are not showing up though. Can you try uploading them again?
 
The 3 white ones are red sex link cockerels. The black one is also a cockerel, and doesn't look to be an Austrolorp with the red in the hackles.
 
As Keesmom says, you have 4 cockerels and 2 pullets(young hens) by the look of it... individual close up profile photos would help to be sure.
If the 3 white ones are red sex link cockerels, which they appear to be, then whoever sold you them should have known they were cockerels from the day they hatched, as that is what red sex links are all about.... the red colour is passed to the females and the males are predominantly white..... so the two red ones that you are calling Isa Browns are female red sex links (Isa Brown is like a "brand name" for a particular red sex link hen)

The black one appears to be getting sickle feathers which suggests he is also a cockerel.

If you plan to keep them all then I would strongly recommend you keep the cockerels in a separate pen and coup.... a bachelor pad if you like.... as they will pester the life (possibly literally) out of those pullets once their hormones kick in, which will be soon. The other options are to kill and eat them or to find an alternative home for them.....where someone else may decide to eat them. Once you see your hens being repeatedly "raped" by them, it's easier to make that decision, but better if you can find a solution before that starts happening.

I hope you find an outcome that works for you.

Good luck

Barbara
 
As Keesmom says, you have 4 cockerels and 2 pullets(young hens) by the look of it... individual close up profile photos would help to be sure.
If the 3 white ones are red sex link cockerels, which they appear to be, then whoever sold you them should have known they were cockerels from the day they hatched, as that is what red sex links are all about.... the red colour is passed to the females and the males are predominantly white..... so the two red ones that you are calling Isa Browns are female red sex links (Isa Brown is like a "brand name" for a particular red sex link hen)

The black one appears to be getting sickle feathers which suggests he is also a cockerel.

If you plan to keep them all then I would strongly recommend you keep the cockerels in a separate pen and coup.... a bachelor pad if you like.... as they will pester the life (possibly literally) out of those pullets once their hormones kick in, which will be soon. The other options are to kill and eat them or to find an alternative home for them.....where someone else may decide to eat them. Once you see your hens being repeatedly "raped" by them, it's easier to make that decision, but better if you can find a solution before that starts happening.

I hope you find an outcome that works for you.

Good luck

Barbara

Agreed.
 
Thanks everyone! We heard our first crow this morning, so I dare say you are correct. Our local school does a program where children watch chickens hatch, we then took on some of the hatchlings after this program which is why we had such limited information. We will look at re-homing the roosters this week :)

I might look at purchasing a few more pullets to replace them, will there be any problems integrating new hens into the flock? And any suggestions on breeds that are good with children and other pets?

I really appreciate your expertise!
 

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