16 week old Dominiques: These are all roos, right?

[Chickassan]

Ours were free to the world, only a little railing key word "were".
Lol, you ever seen a bantam meatbird? Me either, but our local TSC had a ton of them!
Oh to be a fly on the wall to watch those bantam meaties grow in their new homes.

That's hilarious. Ours always have a cage around them but I've definitely seem some obvious mixups before. Unless there's a black crested buff orpington I'm unaware of

 

[Folly's place]

It pays to be able to identify at least some breeds as chicks before buying at the farm store! We learn this, thanks to fun experiences like these. Those cockerels do look very nice...
Mary

 

[BrookBottomFarm]

Thanks! I definitely knew better, but got to our local farm store too late to get the breed I really wanted (Americaunas; all they had left were straight run Isa Browns). Since our flock was down to 5 laying hens, I really wanted to just get some pullets & went the next town over to the Tractor Supply. They had the tubs of chicks fenced off from the public using tube gates that were zip-tied together, and only 2 of the layer tubs were listed as containing pullets: one of mixed color "orpingtons" and one of more Isa Brown/Sexlinks. They had a couple other tubs of straight run chicks in different breeds, but Dominique definitely wasn't anywhere on their list! Anyway, since most of our flock are Rhode Island Reds, I wanted to add a different color to the mix, so asked for the orpington pullets in blue/black/splash. I couldn't really see into the tubs, but figured I ought to at least get something close. Obviously not, though... and it's an even bigger bummer that there aren't any hens at all from my "pullets" (which cost more than the straight runs, BTW)!

I'm sad to have to part with these guys, because they're very quiet and seem to fit in well (at the moment), but a 6 roo to 5 hen ratio is definitely not going to work! Haha!

 

[Folly's place]

maybe keep just one?

 

[Aubecca]

Can someone please tell me how you guys are able to tell? I’m going through the same thing with 2 in my flock. I change my mind every day deciding what gender they are!! I’ve read so much stuff that now my mind is a jumbled mess! Also, mine look like this too, but were labeled as Barred Rocks.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[cstephens1987]

Thanks! I definitely knew better, but got to our local farm store too late to get the breed I really wanted (Americaunas; all they had left were straight run Isa Browns). Since our flock was down to 5 laying hens, I really wanted to just get some pullets & went the next town over to the Tractor Supply. They had the tubs of chicks fenced off from the public using tube gates that were zip-tied together, and only 2 of the layer tubs were listed as containing pullets: one of mixed color "orpingtons" and one of more Isa Brown/Sexlinks. They had a couple other tubs of straight run chicks in different breeds, but Dominique definitely wasn't anywhere on their list! Anyway, since most of our flock are Rhode Island Reds, I wanted to add a different color to the mix, so asked for the orpington pullets in blue/black/splash. I couldn't really see into the tubs, but figured I ought to at least get something close. Obviously not, though... and it's an even bigger bummer that there aren't any hens at all from my "pullets" (which cost more than the straight runs, BTW)!

I'm sad to have to part with these guys, because they're very quiet and seem to fit in well (at the moment), but a 6 roo to 5 hen ratio is definitely not going to work! Haha!

Not sure where you're located but I'd suggest finding a breeder nearby instead

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens having this color pattern are pretty easy to sex, not only by comb and feathering, but the cockerels will be lighter in overall color than the pullets.
Mary

 

[Chickassan]

Big thick legs, lighter color because boys are single barred so they're spaced out further.
When they are babies it is easier.
Girls have a nice little head spot and a lot of black on the legs, boys have a big uneven head spot and little to no black.

Can someone please tell me how you guys are able to tell? I’m going through the same thing with 2 in my flock. I change my mind every day deciding what gender they are!! I’ve read so much stuff that now my mind is a jumbled mess! Also, mine look like this too, but were labeled as Barred Rocks.
Thanks in advance!!

This is Dutch, at about 7 weeks. See how dark her barring looks due to it being double? Also, skinny dark legs.

Hobo, again very dark. Her legs have faded, but still very thin compared to a male.

Dutch as a day old, not much of a head spot, black legs.

Dutch in January, right at point of lay. Hopefully this helps.

 

[BrookBottomFarm]

Not sure where you're located but I'd suggest finding a breeder nearby instead

I wish! I’m in rural PA and literally everyone I know who keeps chickens just has a pretty basic barnyard flock.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I wish! I’m in rural PA and literally everyone I know who keeps chickens just has a pretty basic barnyard flock.

Come move to Georgia, we're all fowl crazy poultry lovers down here.