I was given two chicks and told they were pullets and either a Rhode Island Red or Golden sex link. First time chicken owner. We have two other chicks of different breeds, total of 4. Is the light one a Roo? Are they GSL? The ones in question hatched together 4/3 and there’s such a huge difference in size?? Is the little one ok? Also, the light one is looking a little rough, is it just because the feathers are coming in? I love these little chickies so much already and want the best for them. Thank you!!
Help please...3 weeks old. Pullet or Rooster and what breed??
- Thread starter Jld13
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Hopefully the large chick is not a Cornish X meatbird.
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Oh my. I just looked at pics for those and they look like mine! We wanted chicks for eggs...
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pony007
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The big one looks very much like a Cornish X, and most likely a cockerel by that comb. If the little guy is a meat bird, that would explain why he's so much bigger than the other two, as they grow at a much faster rate than normal layers.
These were my little meaties at 3 weeks, much bigger than the others.
These were my little meaties at 3 weeks, much bigger than the others.
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Just wait, they go from cute little fluff ball's to ugly little dinosaurs, lol, then become beautiful ladies, not the meat birds though
- Apr 14, 2009
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Welcome to BYC, @Jld13!
It is possible you have a Cornish cross meat bird on your hands BUT I think the other possibility is that your other chick is just very small. How old is the black/white chick that you have? It seems to be about the same size as the chick in question.
Based on that large comb at 3 weeks, I think the lighter, larger chick is unfortunately likely to be a rooster, regardless of its breed, which won't produce many eggs for you.
They might both be GSL--if they are, likely one is a pullet and the other is a cockerel. The lighter one's chick fluff is not dark enough to be a RIR.
Edited to add: Both look pretty healthy from the pictures. The scruffiness you may be seeing in the larger chick is normal in the transitional phase to adult feathering.
It is possible you have a Cornish cross meat bird on your hands BUT I think the other possibility is that your other chick is just very small. How old is the black/white chick that you have? It seems to be about the same size as the chick in question.
Based on that large comb at 3 weeks, I think the lighter, larger chick is unfortunately likely to be a rooster, regardless of its breed, which won't produce many eggs for you.
They might both be GSL--if they are, likely one is a pullet and the other is a cockerel. The lighter one's chick fluff is not dark enough to be a RIR.
Edited to add: Both look pretty healthy from the pictures. The scruffiness you may be seeing in the larger chick is normal in the transitional phase to adult feathering.
You do not want a cornish as they must be processed at a certain age. It does look like a rooster, and they grow fast and sometimes at a rate that outgrows the strength of there legs making walking difficult for them.
I would enquire about returning this one and asking for a replacement...before you get more attached.
The other 2 chicks I see in your pictures look great!
I would enquire about returning this one and asking for a replacement...before you get more attached.
The other 2 chicks I see in your pictures look great!
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