Barnevelder Gender - 5 weeks old

[fightingbunny]

I have a barnevelder chick that has been very slow to feather in. I actually suspected it was not going to make it as it just doesn't seem as...vigorous? as the other 2 chicks I have. Now that they are getting a bit older I am suspecting that the slow feathering might be because it is a male chick. I noticed yesterday that the comb was pink and today I see there are wattles. I think at 5 weeks old to have pink and wattles means a boy right, especially with the slow feathering? If anyone familiar with this breed could take a look, I would appreciate it! Also, there is no point in trying to re-home a rooster right? Previously I had family on a farm that would take a rooster, but they do not want any more and I no longer have a rooster plan other than...well...the one most people end up taking. Sigh, I really don't want to have to do that. The reason for going with a hatchery was to avoid having this problem! Stupid 10% is not 10%...grumble.

 

[WyoChickies]

Yep- that's a boy.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Yes, I think you might be right. Where are you at in MD? I have a Barnevelder pullet for sale and would take him off your hands.

 

[fightingbunny]

Oh my goodness! If i could keep him alive, I am willing to drive to where-ever in MD you are! We are over by Baltimore, so eastern shore is a bit of a haul, but maybe I could make it into a 3 day weekend at the beach or something! How much for the pullet? How old is she?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

She is four months old, about 18 weeks today. Two out of the three I got survived shipping and lucky me both survivors were girls so I am selling her for $15

 

[fightingbunny]

So you actually wanted a rooster? Lol, that is so opposite what most people want! I have to be up front that this little boy I have might not be great quality. He came from Meyer hatchery.

 

[alexa009]

100% cockerel.

 

[fightingbunny]

How well would a 4 month old integrate with a flock of 4 one year old pullets and 2 little 5 week olds?

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think the 4 month olds and the year olds would do okay together, but you shouldn't have 5 week old chicks in there with the older ones.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

^ That is true in some instances. I usually start to integrate my chicks around the two week mark with a "safe place" for them to retreat to if someone gets rough. It depends a lot on the temperament of your girls, but most of my girls are pretty nice so there are few worries. This girl is used to being around girls and boys of all ages.

I want to have a dark(er) egg male. I have a Splash Marans male right now that I hatched, but I never end up keeping the Marans males long because they get so big and seem to do a lot of damage to the girls compared to the other breeds. The barnevelder males are typically a couple pounds smaller which should work out better. I was planning to take this pullet to a swap this weekend but if you let me know by Friday one way or another I will hold her back.