Gender question

[mammasue]

I hatched this baby her mother is Isa Brown and we believe the rooster was a Rhode Island Red/copper maran mix. I was thinking with color pattern that she was a she but then little bumps on back of her legs bigger then my other hen chicks. Any other way to figure out what this baby is gonna be?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You have a barnyard mix with nothing genetically to sex link. I find comb size the best gage for my barnyards. There is nothing indicating rooster yet in this chick. Those little bumps are spur buds. All chickens, even females, get a slight spur, the males simply get bigger spurs.

LofMc

 

[nuthatched]

Nothing here is any indication of gender.

 

[mammasue]

You have a barnyard mix with nothing genetically to sex link. I find comb size the best gage for my barnyards. There is nothing indicating rooster yet in this chick. Those little bumps are spur buds. All chickens, even females, get a slight spur, the males simply get bigger spurs.

LofMc

Ok thank you. I appreciate it. My other two that are around same age their spur buds are not prominent that is why I was curious. Thank you again

 

[romea]

You have a barnyard mix with nothing genetically to sex link. I find comb size the best gage for my barnyards. There is nothing indicating rooster yet in this chick. Those little bumps are spur buds. All chickens, even females, get a slight spur, the males simply get bigger spurs.

LofMc

Hi there! I am following you to this thread because of another post many years ago in which you mentioned your successful use of (anti-) crow collars. Can you please share with me the type your use(d)?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

@romea

I use the My Pet Chicken No Crow Collar you can get on Amazon here No-Crow Rooster Collar (L) https://a.co/d/gaJpPVl

It is well made, sturdy, and soft. Mine have been reused, even, as one bird grows out of a medium into a large or grandpa passed and his son took over

Unless you have a bantam or Jersey Giant you'll likely use a large unless it's a young roo. It's better to over wrap a little than have short ends that don't overlap well. Put the end to the back of neck, so the roo can't pick at the ends and loosen over time.

It's best to put the roo in isolation and put collar on loose the first night or two. The roo will try to back out of it, pick it off, roll it off and can get himself into trouble if he fights too hard. Most accept pretty quickly...similar to a puppy or kitten with first collar. Tighten a little by 3rd and 4th. Get to little finger loose (flat of tip of finger inserted between neck and collar) by day 5 and 6. That usually will dampen crow half way but allow eating, drinking, breathing, mating, running, and mild to medium crowing. If you cut crow entirely or to a completely choked off sound, it's too tight for health.

Check regularly. Make sure crop is voiding well. Avoid over fidgeting with it once you've got sweet spot

I've used the collars for the last 12 years. My first roo lived to almost 6 years with it. Others typically 3 to 4. Some have lived shorter dropping at 2, but then generally most died from other causes being hauled off by a coyote or coon, which the collar is useless in preventing, lol. All fat and sassy.

I suspect the collar puts a little more strain on their heart if they are strong crowers, which may be why a couple dropped at 2 years of age, but the alternative in my neck of the woods is the soup pot. Nobody wants roosters.

I've had excellent fertility with my roos so it ain't slowing them down any.

I know the collars are controversial, but I think if they are used carefully, they are a good alternative to a rescue cage or soup pot. Mine have lived the high life in theirs surrounded by lovely ladies...and happier neighbors.

LofMc

 

[romea]

OMG, thank you so very much for this comprehensive reply!
Mine are bantams and a Mille Fleur rooster is the 1 I will need to get used to it ideally asap... 2 Ameraucana bantams are next...

I am generally familiar with the reaction of animals to harnesses (or anything strapped onto their bodies). The way I see it is that their neurons start to fire, giving the brain information they cannot 'compute' until the pathways are forged through habituation. In other words: I am overthinking this.... )

As a sidenote: my 3 remaining roosters are also on an experimental track to try and keep their testosterone as low as possible (via leuprolide) until my vet can castrate/caponize them (longer story). I understand that this will not prevent crowing but it should hopefully keep it on a much lower scale and maybe curb their enthusiasm for it altogether...
In case she is able to excise the testes with clean margins, we may not have to follow up with an implant...........
The road ahead will be interesting.