Can the hatchery mark chicks?

[first time farmer]

I am ordering 25 chicks this spring and i would like to have one rooster. Can i have the hatchery mark the rooster some how so i know which chick it is.

 

[HEChicken]

Hmmm...not sure - you could ask them. I'm curious though, why you want him marked? Is it because you will treat him differently, or just so that you "know". If the latter, you'll know in 2-3 weeks anyway, as you see his comb start to grow more than the others. And in the meantime, you'll have fun guessing. Keep in mind that sexing is only 90% accurate so of the 25 "females" you could get another male or two as well.

 

[AHappychick]

they might iof you ask but I dont think they would remember with how busy they are.

I would order 2 roos just incase one turns out to be mean or if one was to get sick or die

 

[M To The Maxx]

A lot of hatcheries do that with the packing peanuts. Where are you ordering from? I'm sure they can mark the chick for you.

 

[TrystInn]

You might ask if they can put a little bit of dye on the cockerel, though that won't work with darker breeds. They are way too small for any of the bands a hatchery might have on hand, likely.

 

[Brickman House]

We ordered a large, complicated order from Ideal Hatchery last year (multiple breeds and sexes, to be split among 4 families), and they marked everyone accurately and clearly.

So yes, it definitely can be done, and should be easy as pie for any hatchery to mark one cockerel out of a group of pullet chicks, if they offer marking as a service.

 

[gritsar]

Yes they will mark the cockerels for you. In the case of Ideal Hatchery, the color on the chick's head will correspond to a label on the box with the name of the breed. My buff brahma cockerel got a purple mark; the dark brahma got an orange mark.

 

[Foxhound lady]

Hehehe my Welsummer roo had a pink/magenta mark on his cute little head.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Meyer will mark with a band or on the box (if ordering many roosters) for 6 dollars.