10 week old Pullets or Cockerel??

[Mayettachickens]

Our 12 chickens are now 10 weeks old.. 2 we know are cockerels and have started rooing in the morning. We are unsure about our Barred Rocks. Here is a few pictures and one of our Americana Roo's. Hoping they all can stay together. My family and I are outside with them for at least an hour or so everyday socializing. They are the sweetest pets.

One of our Barred Rocks makes a really pretty sound. I can't describe it either. Thanks anyone for the help!










This is Dan. He loves rooing in the morning. Loves flying onto your shoulder too.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Our 12 chickens are now 10 weeks old.. 2 we know are cockerels and have started rooing in the morning. We are unsure about our Barred Rocks. Here is a few pictures and one of our Americana Roo's. Hoping they all can stay together. My family and I are outside with them for at least an hour or so everyday socializing. They are the sweetest pets.

One of our Barred Rocks makes a really pretty sound. I can't describe it either. Thanks anyone for the help!






the one on the left looks like a cockerel, right possibly too

the uneven pattering and comb are saying cockerel

This is Dan. He loves rooing in the morning. Loves flying onto your shoulder too.

 

[Mayettachickens]

Thank you.. I guess I will just have to see if they start rooing.... 4 roosters with 8 hens is bad!

 

[krista74]

At only 10 weeks old, I would suspect both of your barred rocks are cockerels. Their combs and wattles are simply too big and red for such young birds, and the 'more white than black' colouring makes me think roo too.

That being said, I've never owned this breed before and maybe I've got it completely wrong. I hope I am wrong for your sake!

- Krista

 

[donrae]

Both your barred Rocks are cockerels.

You should start making contingency plans now for their future. The day you suddenly see your pullets getting ganged up on will come sooner than you think.

 

[Michael OShay]

Both your barred Rocks are cockerels.

You should start making contingency plans now for their future. The day you suddenly see your pullets getting ganged up on will come sooner than you think.

I agree.

 

[Mayettachickens]

I agree.

Is there anything anyone suggests to do? We love them dearly. My brother and sister are in love with them as well. (8 and 9 years old)
Can they not all be together?
Should I go out and by a separate coop?

 

[donrae]

Since you're all young and wanting pet-type chickens, I'd strongly suggest selling all the males and replacing them with some nice hens. Yes, your males are nice now, but they're essentially babies still. Once they get their male hormones they won't be so nice, to you or to your hens. Keeping a bunch of roosters is basically a huge pain, and they make really poor pets in a situation like yours. Sell them and move on.

 

[Michael OShay]

Is there anything anyone suggests to do? We love them dearly. My brother and sister are in love with them as well. (8 and 9 years old)
Can they not all be together?
Should I go out and by a separate coop?

For the health of your hens, your only two choices are to either keep them in their own separate coop/run, or else re-home them. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many roosters will become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. Even if the roosters don't kill your hens, they will stress them so badly that their lay rate will drop way down. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens in this regard. If you decide to re-home your roosters, you can list them on Craigslist, or talk to your local feed store and see if they know of anyone who might like to have them. They might even have a bulletin board that you could advertise them on. Or you might check with your local 4h. Some of the students may want them. Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your rooster problem.

 

[Michael OShay]

For the health of your hens, your only two choices are to either keep them in their own separate coop/run, or else re-home them. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many roosters will become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. Even if the roosters don't kill your hens, they will stress them so badly that their lay rate will drop way down. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens in this regard. If you decide to re-home your roosters, you can list them on Craigslist, or talk to your local feed store and see if they know of anyone who might like to have them. They might even have a bulletin board that you could advertise them on. Or you might check with your local 4h. Some of the students may want them. Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your rooster problem.

Actually there is a third choice; you could butcher and eat them, but based on your comment about loving them dearly, I assumed that this was not an option for you. )