Finally got my chicks!

[andrealeec]

So after waiting, and waiting...and waiting some more, I got my chicks at a local feed store. Now, this is the first time that I have ever done this before, but I feel pretty confident that my brooder is warm enough, the water isn't leaking, they have clean shavings, and food all the time but I have some questions...
1. They are supposedly all supposed to be females, but what are the odds of there being a rooster or two in there?
2. If there is a rooster, when do they start crowing?

I got 3 Easter Egger's, 2 RIR's, 3 Buff Orpington's, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes, and what I think is a white leghorn. I am SO IN LOVE with my new babies!! (was only going to start with 6...didn't work out too well when I saw them all there)

 

[Chickiegirls2]

You will know when the chicks are about 4-6 months... you will know when you wake up at 5:30 in the morning and one of your babies are practicing!!!
Usually the chicks are sexed pretty well, but you never no for sure... the odds are small!!
Good luck & congrats on your new babies!!

 

[theoldchick]

Congrats on your chicks! Out of 16 pullets from Cackle, one is definitely a cockeral and two more are suspiciously masculine.


This one is 4 weeks:

 

[andrealeec]

OH and 1 more question--I am using a large rubbermaid storage container as a brooder. I put newspaper down, then pine shavings over that. I have the light on one side of the brooder. Where do you put the thermometer? If it is right under the light it registers about 105, but if its on the other side its about 80. But they seem pretty happy in there so the 105 isn't too hot right?

 

[Tawodi]

I have the same setup, but my temp varies between 91 and 96. I would think 105 would be high, but if they love it, I would think for now its fine. I read that you drop 5 degrees per week, roughly. I also put the water near the light so it gets a little warmer than room temp, but not hot. I also put the food away from the light because its a metal feeder and would heat up a lot. Just curious, you aren't using a white light are you? Doing my reading, I found many instances (they even told me at the feed store) that white light causes aggression in the chicks, and that clear, colored or infrared is better.

 

[Balbinka]

Be careful with the white chick you got... make sure you didn't get a broiler or you might have to put it down in a few months

Congrats on your chickies!
People who sex chicks for hatcheries usually have a 90% accuracy rate, but you'll just have to see what they grow into.

It would take some really bad luck to get all roosters from a pen of sexed females!