JenEgrrrL
Songster
I’m a devastated new chicken mama! Less than 2 weeks ago, I paid $130 for 7 young chickens, with the assumption/understanding that the more grown out they were, the more likely you could tell they were pullets. The 1st & only flock I’ve ever cared for was an established group of laying hens that were all about 2 yrs old so I don’t have any experience yet with sexing young ones. I put my trust in the breeder who told me they were straight run, but she tried her best to pick hens. Spending only a few days’ time with them, I really felt like I was given about 70% cockerels- 5 out of 7 of them I’m now thinking- because in the morning when I turn them out, they fluff out their neck feathers, run at each other, bump chests & jump up with their feet extended! I’ve never seen our other flock of hens behave such ways. I bought them on 7/5 and most were 3 months old or close to it, so upon further research when I got home it seems she really should’ve known at that age. Can you all please help me? Turns out, the breeder is gaining a reputation in our area for a high rooster to hen ratio and it sounds like a growing amount of chicken folk will not be purchasing from her farm in Hesperus anymore. She does have a rooster return policy that she shared with me when I told her how many cockerels I thought I was ending up with for such a high price: taking them back for 2 half-priced chicks. But I think I’m done wasting money on her operation, as I feel she gave me what she had left at those higher prices rather than being honest & having me buy from a younger, less picked-through hatch group. Here are the types & hatch dates:
2 Olive Eggers (4/6), Easter Egger (4/6), Lav Ameraucana (4/6), 2 Marans (4/13), and a Fibro (4/20). I think maybe I only have one OE and 1 Marans pullets. Shouldn’t she have been able to tell at those ages? I mean, within 2 days of having them it seemed apparent I had at least 3 cockerels, and as of Monday, it seems more like 5... and I know nothing of sexing chickens! I feel stupid for not speaking up about the super obvious Marans cockerel that had copper hackle feathers & all- he’s the dominant, and has been crowing for 6 days now for goodness sakes. Here are pics:
OE #1 (14.5 wks):
OE #2 (14.5 wks):
EE (14.5 wks):
Lavender Ameraucana (14.5 wks):
Marans #1 (13.5 wks):
Marans #2 (13.5 wks):
Fibro (12.5 wks):
Thanks in advance. I’m feeling pretty taken advantage of for my lack of knowledge. I appreciate all feedback!
2 Olive Eggers (4/6), Easter Egger (4/6), Lav Ameraucana (4/6), 2 Marans (4/13), and a Fibro (4/20). I think maybe I only have one OE and 1 Marans pullets. Shouldn’t she have been able to tell at those ages? I mean, within 2 days of having them it seemed apparent I had at least 3 cockerels, and as of Monday, it seems more like 5... and I know nothing of sexing chickens! I feel stupid for not speaking up about the super obvious Marans cockerel that had copper hackle feathers & all- he’s the dominant, and has been crowing for 6 days now for goodness sakes. Here are pics:
OE #1 (14.5 wks):
OE #2 (14.5 wks):
EE (14.5 wks):
Lavender Ameraucana (14.5 wks):
Marans #1 (13.5 wks):
Marans #2 (13.5 wks):
Fibro (12.5 wks):
Thanks in advance. I’m feeling pretty taken advantage of for my lack of knowledge. I appreciate all feedback!