At what point do I stop wondering if we have a rooster?

[ChickenHawk12]

Our 6 RIRs were 17 weeks old this past Friday, hatched here in an incubator, ordered from a hatchery.

I have yet to hear anybody crow, and none of them look different than the others. One has a redder, bigger comb than the others, but the 3 BO 2 year old hens we have all have different size/color combs too.

Statistically, it would be insane that 2 years ago, we bought five 2-day old unsexed BO chicks from a local farm and they all turned out to be hens, and then we order 6 shipped eggs from a hatchery and THEY all turn out to be hens, too, right?

We have friends that had a RIR rooster a few years ago, and they said they knew long before 17 weeks that he was a roo. So, how long do I keep wondering?

I don't know if I can depend on number of eggs I get per day, because my BOs have never been great layers. In fact, I'm pretty sure one of them only laid eggs for a few months and then never again. She's always been smaller than the others. And another of the BOs is an ok layer but is incessantly broody. The chicks haven't started laying yet, but I expect them to start in the next few weeks, since they are already 17 weeks old and one of the 3 hens has resumed laying almost daily.

So.....did I really get TWO batches of 100% females? Or do I keep wondering through the summer.....

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Our 6 RIRs were 17 weeks old this past Friday, hatched here in an incubator, ordered from a hatchery.

I have yet to hear anybody crow, and none of them look different than the others. One has a redder, bigger comb than the others, but the 3 BO 2 year old hens we have all have different size/color combs too.

Statistically, it would be insane that 2 years ago, we bought five 2-day old unsexed BO chicks from a local farm and they all turned out to be hens, and then we order 6 shipped eggs from a hatchery and THEY all turn out to be hens, too, right?

We have friends that had a RIR rooster a few years ago, and they said they knew long before 17 weeks that he was a roo. So, how long do I keep wondering?

I don't know if I can depend on number of eggs I get per day, because my BOs have never been great layers. In fact, I'm pretty sure one of them only laid eggs for a few months and then never again. She's always been smaller than the others. And another of the BOs is an ok layer but is incessantly broody. The chicks haven't started laying yet, but I expect them to start in the next few weeks, since they are already 17 weeks old and one of the 3 hens has resumed laying almost daily.

So.....did I really get TWO batches of 100% females? Or do I keep wondering through the summer.....

If you post some pictures the peeps with more experience can help. Sounds like you beat the odds tho

Good luck

Gary

 

[aart]

Pics, good clear side views, would help confirm....saddle and hackle feathers would tell the tale.
But you'd probably have seen mounting behaviors(males chasing females, females screaming bloody murder) by now if you have a male in the flock.

 

[ChickenHawk12]

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I made an attempt as they were out in the yard, but a few of them are skittish and run away when I get too close. I will try again later when they are back in the run.

There has been some chasing, but no mounting that I've noticed. Hopefully I can get better pics when they are more confined later.

 

[donrae]

The one pictured is female.

If they all look like that, you have all girls. Males at this point would usually be pretty apparent. Larger, leggier, darker, glossy, pointy hackle and saddle feathers, larger, redder combs, and being interested in the ladies.

 

[BantamLover21]

Definitely a pullet.

 

[drumstick diva]

pullet

 

[ChickenHawk12]

#1

 

[ChickenHawk12]

#2

 

[ChickenHawk12]