Hens? Newbie is Hopeful

[Letta]

Since I got some bad information on my black sex links (spotted head is MALE not female- first big boy crow today LOL

) I am very hopeful my supposed RIR straight run are female. What do the experienced think?

 

[chippysmom327]

I think they are both pullets. congrats!

 

[donrae]

Well, they're not rhode island reds. They look to be red sex link, but we need a little more info. Where did they come from, like a hatchery or private breeder, and how old are they?

They're probably sex link hens, but I'm just getting a feeling they're someone's second generation sex links, which means they're no longer sex linked.

 

[dutchbunny83]

They are red sex links (also called golden comets, red star....) and they are both females.
The blacks are both males.

 

[Letta]

I bought them Feb 28th as day olds, at Rural King straight out of post office boxes pretty much... Sales clerk was SO HELPFUL (NOT) told me the black sex links were female if they had white marks on their heads. So I picked two of them! PIcked Two "RIR" straight run figuring one of the two might be female and I was hoping for one roo, and have a rehoming plan in place if they were both Roos. Two cornish crosses to round out my mandatory 6 chick purchase and thought I was set.
Until the black sex links began to bar and I realized I could have 6 ROOSTERS- not what I had in mind

Glad to hear you think these are pullets at least even if they arent RIR. This has been fun and educational - hopefully I will get an egg or two before the end of summer!
I will not be repeating the Cornish crosses however, too much poop!! Even if they are hysterical!

 

[Letta]

I am sure that next year I will be adding to the flock again. Since the farm supply store was not a very reliable source of hens - do you think I would be better off ordering direct from the hatchery?

 

[dutchbunny83]

My personal favorite hatchery is Ideal Poultry.
They ship year round and have NO chick minimum just a $25 minimum.
They also have the cheapest prices and cheapest shipping.
Customer service is great, and will refund or replace chicks that don't make it.
All of mine from them were always healthy.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Order a couple extra because every now and then a sexed pullet can turn out to be a rooster, but that's with any hatchery...

 

[Letta]

Thanks to all for the reassurance! They are now laying consistently an egg a day. The first egg sent me into delirium!! I had no idea I would love this so much! I am already at the point of sharing eggs with my neighbors to offset the rooster annoyance!

The roosters have been re-homed and replaced with two easter eggers so hopefully I will have a colorful egg basket this summer!