My entire chicken flock in my Eglu just got murdered by racoons who busted and chewed the plastic run clips. I'm mortified and sad. My Omlet was only 1.5 years old with skirt, everything. Reinforced with zipties. Never again. I have the literal "racoon resistant" run they offer. I dont even know...
Black Sexlink males have like a dirty Barred/Cuckoo pattern while females are typically Black with Gold or Red heads/throats.
Is there an official name for these patterns?
Black Sexlink Hen:
Black Sexlink Rooster:
Cocci is usually an issue with build up in your actual brooder. Letting your chicks/keets out will help spread their droppings away from concentrate within your brooder. It's fine as long as it's a secure pen that is predator proof and where you can catch the babies again if needed, and has both...
Keets are literally HORRIBLE to raise. They always make chicks raised with them spooky and bad with human keepers. Don't sweat it too bad. Chickens are 1000% better than guineas, especially when rearing chicks.
I've also had no problems with Ideal Hatchery and refunds when needed. I actually have found their chick-to-adult ratio to like actually surviving laying eggs much better than Cackles. Though I feel Cackles has some better looking birds for some breeds.
You just kinda get an eye for it over time. Looking at the comb growth and waddle buds. Almost aways, any comb ans waddle budding before 3 weeks is a rooster. Any red is caused from testosterone, indicative of a male. Breeds like old english game bantams and Japanese Bantams are incredibly easy...