A runt or is there more to it?

[aart]

Did we...hell, I have 22 chicks and I can't tell.

Maybe I have you confused with someone else...sorry.
How old are you birds...all the same breed?
At 6 weeks the males should be glaringly obvious.

 

[Buckeye2002]

8 weeks and I think I have 4

ONE

TWO

THREE & FOUR

Thoughts?

 

[Buckeye2002]

All my others look like this

 

[123RedBeard]

Yeah, I'd say you got those four ...

Now you need to figure out what you want to do with them ?

In 2-6 more weeks their hormones are gonna kick in ... your not gonna want those four cockrells with the other 18 pullets in that tiny coop!

Are you allowed to keep cockrells/cocks (roosters) where you live?

1. Try to rehome them - Craigslist, or post here on BYC.

2. Make a "bachelor" coop for them.

3. Butcher and eat them.

4. I don't know if the store you got them from would take them back, or even refund your purchase price ... ???

Most hatcheries only guarantee a 90% accuracy on "sexed" chickens ...

How is your second runt doing?

 

[aart]

Yup, see how big a difference in comb and wattle size and color?
Well, hard to see the color under a red light, but you'll be able to see it in daylight.
Got a plan for the males?

 

[Buckeye2002]

Yeah, I'd say you got those four ...

Now you need to figure out what you want to do with them ?

In 2-6 more weeks their hormones are gonna kick in ... your not gonna want those four cockrells with the other 18 pullets in that tiny coop!

Are you allowed to keep cockrells/cocks (roosters) where you live?

1. Try to rehome them - Craigslist, or post here on BYC.

2. Make a "bachelor" coop for them.

3. Butcher and eat them.

4. I don't know if the store you got them from would take them back, or even refund your purchase price ... ???

Most hatcheries only guarantee a 90% accuracy on "sexed" chickens ...

How is your second runt doing?

I made the decision to euthanize her based on a great amount of information and advice. Wasn’t easy, but needed to be done.
I spoke with Meyer Hatchery yesterday that I thought I had cockerels and they said I was covered 100%. I sent them pics as well. I can’t have Roos in town, so losing them is not a real loss for me and opens up the coop with much needed room.

 

[Buckeye2002]

Yup, see how big a difference in comb and wattle size and color?
Well, hard to see the color under a red light, but you'll be able to see it in daylight.
Got a plan for the males?

I will try to find them homes. Not sure how much luck I will have, but I’ll give it a go. If I can’t, at what point is it optimal to butcher them to eat?

 

[123RedBeard]

For eating ... you can do it it anytime, but "optimal" like most meat, will be around 20+ weeks ...

They will probably start crowing around 12-16 weeks ... so less meat at that time, but quieter ...

Did you mention to Meyers about the two runts too?

 

[aart]

If I can’t, at what point is it optimal to butcher them to eat?

I slaughter all my cockerels at about 14-16 weeks,
before they start raising too much havoc.
Not quite as much meat as older,
but tender enough to grill for that crispy skinned deliciousness.
Grilled bones make excellent stock.

 

[Buckeye2002]

Here is an update on what I think are 4 Roos in my group. Thoughts appreciated!
The second to last picture is what all my other "hens" look like. All of them are 15 weeks.