Crossing my Red Ranger Hens.

[Compost King]

It would be less complicated if I had better communication skills.

 

[Newyorkrita]

It would be less complicated if I had better communication skills.

Just a lot of moving around of birds!

 

[Compost King]

Does anyone know how to sex young CX? I have noticed that some have faster wing feather development. Being Hybrids its possible that the females develop wing feathers faster. I wonder if I can tell by leg thickness. I have 3 weeks before I split them up. It would be easier if I can get less than 6 CX to raise on the buddy system since I only have one compost pile.

 

[Parront]

Does anyone know how to sex young CX? I have noticed that some have faster wing feather development. Being Hybrids its possible that the females develop wing feathers faster. I wonder if I can tell by leg thickness. I have 3 weeks before I split them up. It would be easier if I can get less than 6 CX to raise on the buddy system since I only have one compost pile.

Just that by 3-4 weeks the males are noticeably bigger.

 

[Kris5902]

Just that by 3-4 weeks the males are noticeably bigger.

Yes! I’m also wondering. Any comb/wattle size examples? There were two giant reddish combs in when I pulled out my 3 “girls” at 8-9 weeks, now we are at 16 1/2 and they are looking super rosy, the Runt also seems to be getting a larger comb. Fingers crossed they don’t start crowing... 2 squat for me so???

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does anyone know how to sex young CX? I have noticed that some have faster wing feather development. Being Hybrids its possible that the females develop wing feathers faster.

Could you contact where you got them and ask if they are feather-sexed? Since they are typically all raised for meat, male and female, there may not be a strong reason for them to be feather-sexed, but at the same time it would be easy for them to set that up.

How old will those CX be in three weeks? I don't know that I'd trust leg thickness that much in CX but combs/wattles might work. I don't raise CX but with other birds it is generally easier to say a chick is definitely a male than it is to say this is definitely a female. Some males develop faster than others.

 

[Parront]

Yes! I’m also wondering. Any comb/wattle size examples? There were two giant reddish combs in when I pulled out my 3 “girls” at 8-9 weeks, now we are at 16 1/2 and they are looking super rosy, the Runt also seems to be getting a larger comb. Fingers crossed they don’t start crowing... 2 squat for me so???

The ones who are squatting are girls for sure. They think you are their rooster! They love you and want you to climb aboard.

 

[Kris5902]

The ones who are squatting are girls for sure. They think you are their rooster! They love you and want you to climb aboard.

Well, that’s a relief! I was hoping that was the case, but the sudden comb and wattle growth as well as the bright red had me a little concerned. And no, they do not want a rooster yet! I tried that with my bottom Barnvelder boy to get him away from the other two boys that like to pretend he’s a hen and he went straight to emulating the jerks behavior. The four ladies were quite traumatized and there were feathers everywhere... he is a lot easier to catch when he’s got a girl pinned though, that’s for sure. So about ten more weeks until eggs, I’m hoping! And they should be ready to breed by next April/May when they are about 1 year old?

@Compost King when do you start hatching out eggs from your rangers? How long do you wait, age wise? I tried with my 9/10mo Marans and the chicks were much smaller than the ones from the older girls. But I’m worried that every week brings these little bowling ball hens closer to a heart attack! I can’t wait until they are laying and I can put them on a layer feed with lower fat and protein content.

 

[Parront]

They are squatting, want a male. But, not laying yet, so not really ready, think a 14-year-old girl! Give them a few more weeks, and try the rooster again.

 

[Molpet]

I kept a CX pullet from March 31 2016. Around Sept 2016 she started laying. A br went broody and hatched 4 CX mix eggs at halloween. The CX quit laying around the time they hatched. She died that spring before she started laying again....