How many roosters do I have?

Megs501

Songster
7 Years
Mar 2, 2012
135
2
111
Flint Hills KS
My Coop
My Coop
OK- these are all mixed breed chickens, as in they are mutts. They are all 6-7 weeks old. I know I have a barred rock (looking) rooster, he is crowing (I LOVE hearing him crow) and much bigger than the others.

But ... I have a big ole rhode island red-looking chicken that I think may be a roo =( I really only want one rooster, as my flock is only made up of 14 chickens right now. Then there is one more smaller red that I am wondering if it is a rooster?

Because they're all mutts, I am not sure just how big and red their combs are at what age and if that means they're a roo.

All the others are lighter feathered, or white and brown and have very pale combs. Here are a few pictures.

I think this is the bigger red one:


This is the bigger red one behind a female barred rock cross. Also, is the one in the bottom ;eft corner a rooster you think? I couldnt get a good pic of him/her (her name is meatball) The comb isn't BIG but it is red?



This is the smaller red on the left, and the comb is smaller and paler, but more red than the other breeds I have.


And again, bad picture. you can see the barred rock roo aka Roosty. and the little red there in the back.



So, I know the combs aren't very big on them, but theyre definitely more red. I don't know if that makes them roos or not? I haven't noticed any of the crowing .... yet.

Thank you so much for your help!
 
At 6 to 7 weeks old, any of the chicks with red combs are male. Pullets do not start to turn red in the combs until they are almost ready to start laying eggs. They usually start pinking up after 14 weeks. Males mature much earlier than females and are usually red in the comb by about 10 weeks.
 
aw, man ... that's what I was afraid of. Okay, thank you! I can go back and exchange them for more chicks from the man I bought them from ... then I have to re-brood and bla blah ... but I may do it anyway. Probably worth it. I don't want 4 roosters!
 

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