Help! Roosters or Hens?

[green2chickens]

Hi everyone!

This is our first flock of chickens EVER and we just LOOOOOVE our flock! My kids adore them as well. We have our guesses as to whether we have pullets or cockerels, but can you help us? I'm also trying to confirm some of the breeds as well. All of our chickens are about 11 weeks old right now. I'm trying to determine what gender our white silkie is, our partridge silkie, and our barred rock EE (its dad was a Lavender Americauna). We just love our Mosaic as well...we are thinking it's a hen, but not positive. And we also our guessing we have a Copper Blue Marans rooster possibly????? And the black one...it's dad was a lavender Americauna as well, but I'm thinking mama was an Australorp possibly?? Thoughts?

I'd love your thoughts on both gender and breed!

 

[JedJackson]

Bird 1, the white with black and silver markings, is a pullet. Looks like a mixed breed.

Bird 2, white Silkie, is a cockerel.

Bird 3, blue copper Marans, cockerel

Bird 4, barred Ameraucana cross, cockerel

Bird 5, black Ameraucana cross, pullet

Bird 6, partridge Silkie, probably a pullet. Silkies are slow so this one could turn out to be a cockerel. Time will tell.

So, best case scenario, you have 3 cockerels and 3 pullets. Which means you will probably need to get rid of two of the cockerels or get many more pullets. The reason being that the cockerels will fight a lot over just 3 pullets and the pullets will be over-bred if there is a 3:3 ratio.

 

[green2chickens]

Bird 1, the white with black and silver markings, is a pullet. Looks like a mixed breed.

Bird 2, white Silkie, is a cockerel.

Bird 3, blue copper Marans, cockerel

Bird 4, barred Ameraucana cross, cockerel

Bird 5, black Ameraucana cross, pullet

Bird 6, partridge Silkie, probably a pullet. Silkies are slow so this one could turn out to be a cockerel. Time will tell.

So, best case scenario, you have 3 cockerels and 3 pullets. Which means you will probably need to get rid of two of the cockerels or get many more pullets. The reason being that the cockerels will fight a lot over just 3 pullets and the pullets will be over-bred if there is a 3:3 ratio.

Wow, looks like my personal predictions were true! So sad to probably need to get rid of these 3. The Marans and Barred Rock constantly seem to be standing up to each other, so that makes sense. Personally, I love the sound of roosters, but am so scared one will get mean and I don't want my kids to be scared of going in the coop. Our barred rock, from day one, has been the friendliest bird and has often cuddled with all of this. I've heard that those are usually the ones that end up being the meanest. Is there any truth to this?

 

[JedJackson]

Wow, looks like my personal predictions were true! So sad to probably need to get rid of these 3. The Marans and Barred Rock constantly seem to be standing up to each other, so that makes sense. Personally, I love the sound of roosters, but am so scared one will get mean and I don't want my kids to be scared of going in the coop. Our barred rock, from day one, has been the friendliest bird and has often cuddled with all of this. I've heard that those are usually the ones that end up being the meanest. Is there any truth to this?

I've heard the same thing many times, so I think there is truth to it. And it makes sense, because a bold bird who is unafraid of humans has a greater likelihood to be actively aggressive toward them when the hormones start flowing.

 

[green2chickens]

I've heard the same thing many times, so I think there is truth to it. And it makes sense, because a bold bird who is unafraid of humans has a greater likelihood to be actively aggressive toward them when the hormones start flowing.

So sad! We love our Oreo!!!! Looks like he may have to go!

 

[JedJackson]

So sad! We love our Oreo!!!! Looks like he may have to go!

It is really hard to let go when you've raised them. You could take a wait and see approach, but with little children around it is probably not worth taking a chance. Hopefully you can find him a good home.

 

[green2chickens]

It is really hard to let go when you've raised them. You could take a wait and see approach, but with little children around it is probably not worth taking a chance. Hopefully you can find him a good home.

Yes, I agree. Is the Copper Blue worth anything at all or will I probably have to give him away? We paid like $30 for him!