Hen or Rooster?

[FarmerLex]

Got 5 straight run RIR chicks! They are about 5 almost 6 weeks old. Wanted to see if anyone could help me figure out which ones are male vs female. They have colored bands on their legs and one has no band. So far I believe purple is a rooster and green is a hen. Does anyone have any advice as well for what to do if we have more roosters than hens? Do I need to separate them soon? Thanks!

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

Got 5 straight run RIR chicks! They are about 5 almost 6 weeks old. Wanted to see if anyone could help me figure out which ones are male vs female. They have colored bands on their legs and one has no band. So far I believe purple is a rooster and green is a hen. Does anyone have any advice as well for what to do if we have more roosters than hens? Do I need to separate them soon? Thanks!

If any are hens I think it would be the green one they all look like males to me. If they are not fighting I would not separate them. But if you do only have one or 2 hens you will need to only keep one rooster and probably add more hens or if you want to keep all of them you will need to get more hens for every rooster

 

[Holdthechicken]

I agree they all look like possibly males to me considering the color of their combs and wattles.

 

[nuthatched]

All pictured are cockerels. You probably should keep only 1 and get about 5 more hens.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Got 5 straight run RIR chicks! They are about 5 almost 6 weeks old. Wanted to see if anyone could help me figure out which ones are male vs female. They have colored bands on their legs and one has no band. So far I believe purple is a rooster and green is a hen. Does anyone have any advice as well for what to do if we have more roosters than hens? Do I need to separate them soon? Thanks!

I see all cockerels.

 

[FarmerLex]

I agree they all look like possibly males to me considering the color of their combs and wattles.

What do I do in this situation? This is our first time with chicks and will probably never buy straight runs again if we have one hen how long can she stay by herself until we get new chicks?

 

[Holdthechicken]

What do I do in this situation? This is our first time with chicks and will probably never buy straight runs again if we have one hen how long can she stay by herself until we get new chicks?

I may be the least experienced out of the responses on here I just happen to have three 10 week old RIR pullets. I have my first cockerels In my own flock and they are only 6 and 4 weeks old. I’m in the same situation, trying to figure out who to keep and such..

All pictured are cockerels. You probably should keep only 1 and get about 5 more hens.

@nuthatched and @MysteryChicken may have more expertise on how to navigate multiple roosters together (mine were never together, and have yet to be).

 

[MysteryChicken]

I may be the least experienced out of the responses on here I just happen to have three 10 week old RIR pullets. I have my first cockerels In my own flock and they are only 6 and 4 weeks old. I’m in the same situation, trying to figure out who to keep and such..

@nuthatched and @MysteryChicken may have more expertise on how to navigate multiple roosters together (mine were never together, and have yet to be).

I keep multiple roosters to multiple hens.

 

[Holdthechicken]

I keep multiple roosters to multiple hens.

I always grew up with a ton of chickens hens and multiple roosters around the property .. but they free ranged on many many acres .. the idea of keeping them in a run/coop makes me nervous. Do you free range?

 

[Quarterhorses1]

I agree, all are cockerels