hen or a roo? very sad : - (

[Rhoise]

Today I went to see an experienced chicken person to purchase a chick to add to my little urban flock of 5 chicks, she looked at my 3 RR's chicks and thinks all 3 are Roos ;- ( I was glad that she thinks the 2 BR's are pullets they are super tame and friendly(my favorites)....she did tell me to wait and be sure...... when is that when they start crowing and I'm way too attached? geez their only 3 1/2 weeks old and I'm really bummed.

 

[donrae]

They're way too young to tell.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I agree it's several weeks too early. Post again in 3 weeks.

 

[Rhoise]

It is very early! I will keep hopes up but struggle with getting too attached, about how old are they when you can tell for sure?

 

[highpointfarm]

Their is no way she would be able to tell... way to young

 

[math ace]

You should be able to tell within a couple of more weeks. You will be looking for larger combs and wattles. If they turn pink this young or in the next week or two.... you will have a real good chance you are looking at a cockerel.

For example, in the photo you have of the barred rocks... The one standing in the back righ looks like it is starting to get color in the comb. If that is true and not just a lighting trick... then I would call that chick a cockerel.

The RIR sitting down in the far left is starting to show pink wattles already.... I am calling that one a cockerel too

 

[Rhoise]

I'm Gonna hope and pray and try to be patient! you guys are giving me hope, but I guess it's just one of the downsides of trying to get urban hen's as pets, and starting with chicks I guess if I started with the notion of meat birds my mind is somehow ok with it, grew up this way, but now......

 

[GardenGal]

Chicken keeping can be very hard. It's less like having puppies and more like farming. You get used to making tough decisions, and letting beloved chickens go for one reason or another, and you learn not to let hard times beat you. You pick yourself up and get more chickens!

 

[Rhoise]

I Know, I am definitely fearing the "hard" after being told my three chicks might be roo's...... I grew up eating calves's we raised on milk re-placer, and eating the Easter chicks we raised and played with, sometimes by no control of my own, it was not always in the best of conditions either. As an adult I earned a college degree in animal science because I love animals. Because of cost and choosing to turn a blind eye knowing how these animals are raised, I 've been buying my chicken, eggs, and other meats in the grocery store for years. Last year I decided to try something different, and support small local farms, buy eggs and meat at a greater cost at the local market, not only for health and taste, but humane reasons too...This spring I'm trying yet a different approach, raising this little urban flock to create a small change in me, my family(DH, 2 loving sons), my neighbors, and hopefully some friends, not to mention a few chickens lives. Yes it is farming, and I love meat, so as to not be wasteful, and so I don't just pawn the inevitable off on some other person with less emotion or a different philosophy, I will try and do it more responsibly...... if I have to shed a few tears while I put my poor feathered friends( only because they where born male) in the soup pot or on the Bbq, bear with me, and thanks, I love this web site and all the helpful people willing to give their help, advise, and support

 

[GardenGal]

Rhoise,

I didn't mean to sound hard on you. Good for you for caring. I've only had chickens for a year, and I've cried over our chickens too. We had to give away 3, and I saw my special girl get taken by a coyote just last week. It gives me a new respect for people who have small farms, and know so well where their food came from.

If one of your roosters turns out to be especially sweet you might consider finding him a new home. We ended up with two roosters and were able to find them a new home on Craigslist. One of our sweet rooster chicks turned out to be an absolute stinker, and being the urban cowards that we are, we seriously considered giving him an overdose of sleeping pills. The lady figured he was worth a second chance, and if not she knew how to handle him.

I'm so grateful for BYC as well. It's good to be normal somewhere!