Gender?

[chooks4life]

Thanks! We are about a week later and no red combs, so I think we are good. They are about 6.5 weeks now, I should be seeing some obvious signs, right?

Yes, you should be seeing a lot more signs if they were male, I'd guess they're female.

Also, how would I know if they are red sexlinks or RIR or another unnamed red pullet?

Sorry, I'm not sure of the answer to that question.

Here are the two bantams now, is it safe to say that one is male and one is female?

Sorry, both look male to me, that's too much crest on both. One is quite pale, but still has a large crest comparable to the other.

Another question I don't know if I need a new topic, but I am giving the bantams away as a pair and the home I found for them is going to let them free range all the time. They have a coop, but are not going to make them go in. What age would it be ok to give them? I am looking forward to having them out of my bathroom, and they are seeming pretty frustrated not being able to fly more.

They will definitely benefit from being out of the bathroom, and as for what age you can give them away, any age works for chooks.

You would need to start a new topic, in the selling/trading area, not sure what it's called but you'll find it, it's obviously named for its purpose. I reckon they're both males so you probably should consider splitting them if the person/people interested only ask for one. They would be better company for each other if kept together but not many people keep related roosters or two of the same type unless they're breeding that breed specifically. Best wishes.

 

[Chloesmama]

Well Shoot. Will they fight with one another if they are together? I think the home will take them if they are both male, but not if they are going to fight and kill each other......

Thanks!

 

[chooks4life]

Well Shoot. Will they fight with one another if they are together? I think the home will take them if they are both male, but not if they are going to fight and kill each other......

Thanks!

Being raised together they will probably be fine. Genetic predispositions towards excessive violence show early so if they are fine now, they will most likely be fine for life. There will probably be some more serious scuffles, but most roosters if well-balanced will only boot one another a few times, often as little as one boot to sort out the pecking order, no injuries or killings.

I've often kept a ratio of 50:50 males and females of all ages/genetics/etc together, with no problems, no killings.... It should be viewed as an aberration for them to kill one another, I believe, because normally like any animals they are able to sort it out without killing or even injuring one another. They will fight over who's top roo, and who's second roo, and so forth down the ladder of hierarchy, but bloodshed over it is very uncommon because for a killing, you need one or both animals to be excessively aggressive. If you cull for severe aggression it doesn't breed on, same for bullying or neurotic behavior, and what you're left with is a very peaceful flock. I culled for negative behavioral traits early on, and since then have not had any issues.

Since your little fellas have already decided who is top and who is second, a follow up contest may occur when they're about 6 months to a year old and really starting to feel like adults, but it shouldn't be anything serious and asides from that they should be just fine, even a bit chummy. Some roosters develop very close relationships with their brothers or friends. Some will share a girlfriend or share mating with every hen they mate with, with their friend. Some are homosexual too. Roosters aren't as rabidly anti-rooster as the general perception of them suggests, is what I'm getting at there. The rooster most likely to kill other roosters is the one who has been kept away from other roosters his whole life, and the exact same thing applies to hens as well.

Best wishes.

 

[Chloesmama]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer with so much details! I am just at a loss with these cuties. I really wish I could keep them and my daughters (especially my 6 year old) just want to hold and talk to them all day. They are going to be really sad in a few weeks when they are gone. We live in the city and can't have any roosters.

 

[chooks4life]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer with so much details! I am just at a loss with these cuties. I really wish I could keep them and my daughters (especially my 6 year old) just want to hold and talk to them all day. They are going to be really sad in a few weeks when they are gone. We live in the city and can't have any roosters.

You're welcome. Sorry your future parting from them is a source of upset... Have you considered relocating to a more rural area?

If you really love animals and want to keep them for the rest of your life, or your kids' adolescence, you're going to benefit greatly from more space and peace to pursue that interest. The health of the kids and animals will also benefit from greater free-ranging, generally speaking, too.

Best wishes.