Help, Pullet or Cockerel?

[Moonshadow715]

Thank you. It looks like of the 8 “pullets” I bought as chicks, 3 of them are cockerels. I’m assuming they aren’t going to get along and I’ll have to get rid of some? My chickens are all different breeds. I have what I believe now to be a speckled Sussex, Colombian Wyandotte, and a barred rock cockerel. So much for all hens!

 

[LoriS2281]

I wouldn't buy anymore chicks from them, but I'm not nice when things like that happen. One male I could understand but 2 out of 6 chicks is a bit too much. Good luck...

So am I relatively safe to say any bright red combs at 11-13 weeks are going to be roosters? Pinkish hens?

 

[Painted Calls]

So am I relatively safe to say any bright red combs at 11-13 weeks are going to be roosters? Pinkish hens?

Yes.

 

[LoriS2281]

Yes.

Thank you.

 

[LoriS2281]

Thank you. It looks like of the 8 “pullets” I bought as chicks, 3 of them are cockerels. I’m assuming they aren’t going to get along and I’ll have to get rid of some? My chickens are all different breeds. I have what I believe now to be a speckled Sussex, Colombian Wyandotte, and a barred rock cockerel. So much for all hens!

Same boat, 2/6 of my pullets are cockerels.

 

[Moonshadow715]

Same boat, 2/6 of my pullets are cockerels.

So frustrating! I just don’t know where to go from here. Keep them or get rid of them? They are all together.

 

[LoriS2281]

So frustrating! I just don’t know where to go from here. Keep them or get rid of them? They are all together.

One of my two is already showing signs of being a jerk so he’s going to be re-homed. From what I’ve read here and other articles I think three roosters to five hens may be too much stress and breeding for your hens. I have two sapphire gem sex linked pullets in the brooder I will be integrating into the flock in a couple months to keep the hen/rooster ratio a little higher rather than lower.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

One of my two is already showing signs of being a jerk so he’s going to be re-homed. From what I’ve read here and other articles I think three roosters to five hens may be too much stress and breeding for your hens. I have two sapphire gem sex linked pullets in the brooder I will be integrating into the flock in a couple months to keep the hen/rooster ratio a little higher rather than lower.

I would keep one rooster only to avoid stressing the hens, unless you have at absolute minimum about 16 hens. Even if the roosters don't fight, life gets miserable for the hens. I am a big advocate for less roosters. Right now I have one rooster on ten hens and almost every single one is getting a bit defeathered from him

 

[Moonshadow715]

One of my two is already showing signs of being a jerk so he’s going to be re-homed. From what I’ve read here and other articles I think three roosters to five hens may be too much stress and breeding for your hens. I have two sapphire gem sex linked pullets in the brooder I will be integrating into the flock in a couple months to keep the hen/rooster ratio a little higher rather than lower.

Makes total sense. Honestly I don’t want any roosters, even though they are beautiful! I’d rather my hens just be happy! Is that wrong?