Heater birds

[clarkechick]

My neighbor just took 10 chicks home from a local store because they were "leftovers" and being neglected. The person at the store said that they had been heater birds from orders of turkeys. I have been holding my tounge, but aren't heater birds (to fill up the shipping box and keep everyone warm) usually males? Six of the 10 died, like I said, neglected leftovers, but she has 4 who are going strong. We live in a very suburban neighborhood and I am afraid that she is going to have 4 crowing roosters who will NOT be very popular!!

Am I wrong about the heater birds?

(I happend to pick up my first 3 chicks this year as well, but they are sexed so HOPEFULLY all ladies)

 

[sfw2]

The "heater birds" - a lot of folks here call them "packing peanuts" - are often cockerels, but not always. I guess it's possible that the hatchery may have had extra pullets for some reason.