Didn't Get My Roos?? What should I do?

[rfreedlund]

I'd be looking for one now. I don't know your state's geography, but I did a search for "bryon ill craigslist" and got directed to Rockford? If that's you, there are some Australorp roosters advertised there now.

I checked the Rockford Craigslist out. You are right. It definitely appears there are roos very close to me if I want them. I am not set up for any quarantine right now, though.

I suppose this is when every one is trying to get rid of their extra roosters before winter. If I work on setting up quarantine for late winter, I suppose the selection of roosters won't be as good, though.

 

[Percheron chick]

Not necessarily. If people picked up chicks in the middle of summer, they might not realize that they even have roosters until Xmas. If they know now they have roosters, than they are going to try to get rid of them before they have to start feeding them extra for the cold weather.

I think that waiting until you have a hard freeze to pick up outside birds is not a bad idea either.

 

[speckledhen]

Check for the circled feather fringe. If they have those, you got your males. Pullets don't have those skinny, pointy, shiny feathers there.
Make sure before you go buying any roosters and risk bringing in disease to your girls.

 

[rfreedlund]

Not necessarily. If people picked up chicks in the middle of summer, they might not realize that they even have roosters until Xmas. If they know now they have roosters, than they are going to try to get rid of them before they have to start feeding them extra for the cold weather.

I think that waiting until you have a hard freeze to pick up outside birds is not a bad idea either.

I'll keep that in mind. It doesn't seem to make sense feeding them the whole winter. Plus it gives me time to set up a better quarantine area.

It's just tempting, though, as I am already seeing the number of roosters that are available to me free or for little money now!!

 

[rfreedlund]

Check for the circled feather fringe. If they have those, you got your males. Pullets don't have those skinny, pointy, shiny feathers there.

That's just it. I don't seem to be seeing anything like that and I have seen roosters before. I just don't remember what they looked like at 23 weeks.

I am still incredulous, though, that the hatchery could have actually sent me all pullets, even for the cockerels I purposely ordered!!

 

[speckledhen]

That's just it. I don't seem to be seeing anything like that and I have seen roosters before. I just don't remember what they looked like at 23 weeks.

I am still incredulous, though, that the hatchery could have actually sent me all pullets, even for the cockerels I purposely ordered!!

Yeah, that would be highly unusual, I agree! Would like to see these accidental pullets of yours!

 

[rfreedlund]

Yeah, that would be highly unusual, I agree! Would like to see these accidental pullets of yours!

I will try to get some pictures of some of them tonight. Some of my Australorps are definitely girls without a doubt, but I will try to get pictures of those that I have had my doubts on, but only for very subtle reasons.

 

[speckledhen]

I will try to get some pictures of some of them tonight. Some of my Australorps are definitely girls without a doubt, but I will try to get pictures of those that I have had my doubts on, but only for very subtle reasons.

Can't wait!

 

[lazy gardener]

That's just it. I don't seem to be seeing anything like that and I have seen roosters before. I just don't remember what they looked like at 23 weeks.

I am still incredulous, though, that the hatchery could have actually sent me all pullets, even for the cockerels I purposely ordered!!

Doesn't surprise me a bit. In the spring of 2013, I special ordered 3 Dominique pullet chicks. Got 3 cockrels. I could see that they were all cockrels the minute I laid eyes on them, and told the guy at the hardware store. He assured me that they were definitely pullets, as the hatchery rarely makes a mistake, even called the hatchery. So I got a verbal agreement from him and the hatchery rep to replace them free of charge when they started crowing. The hatchery never should have made that mistake, as Doms, like other barred and cuckoo patterned birds are very easy to sex at hatch.

 

[rfreedlund]

Doesn't surprise me a bit. In the spring of 2013, I special ordered 3 Dominique pullet chicks. Got 3 cockrels. I could see that they were all cockrels the minute I laid eyes on them, and told the guy at the hardware store. He assured me that they were definitely pullets, as the hatchery rarely makes a mistake, even called the hatchery. So I got a verbal agreement from him and the hatchery rep to replace them free of charge when they started crowing. The hatchery never should have made that mistake, as Doms, like other barred and cuckoo patterned birds are very easy to sex at hatch.

Yeah, I hear about cockerels being given for pullets all of the time, but I don't know anyone personally who has gotten pullets instead of cockerels. Many would be happy, but I wanted the roos. It might be "good business", though not ethical for a hatchery to "accidentally" slip in a boy every now and then instead of a girl, but the other way around doesn't seem to happen too often.