- Oct 1, 2012
- 13
- 0
- 22
Hey guys
Okay so I made a homemade incubator and wanted to test it out with a very small amount of eggs just for fun, as we wanted them as pets to keep in the garden. Out of the 6 or 7 that were fertile, 4 hatched. The rest died in the first week of incubation after a really bad temperature spike
(we candelled them every day) Anyway, the four that hatched are thriving and doing just great
. We are hoping we can keep all four as we are really attached to them, and the roo's shouldn't really be an issue we hope, but we know that more than 1 roo in a flock of so few could lead to problems... Anyway. I know the best and only fail-proof way of sexing the little guys is to just wait and see when they grow up, but just out of interests sake and in the meantime while I wait, I'd like to get your guys opinions and which you think are roo's and which are pullets... As I said, they are just short of 3 weeks old (Hatched on the 31st of October and 1st of November - I had halloween babies
)
There is one whom I am almost certain is a roo.. I just have this feeling. It always perched higher than the others and its comb is very slighty larger, and its legs are far thicker, but at the same time, I just can't be sure. I also read somewhere that the roos will generally chirp loudly if one of the other chicks is out of the brooder, and whenever I take one out to cuddle, he/she goes crazy. BUT, his/her feathers are a bit more developed than the others... Tried to feather sex but not too sure what to look for and don't think it can anyway be done with my lot
Anyway... I will start with the one I think is a roo, Harley... He is also slightly bigger than the others. He is a cuckoo maran.
This is Basil... My only rhode island red that hatched out. I can't decide if I think he's a roo or a pullet. I'm swaying towards a roo, but think it's just because he looked like my old pet rooster I hatched out...
This next one is Cadbury, also a cuckoo maran. Got a feeling this one is a pullet. Her head is far rounder and she is much more subdued and compared to Harley, she cowars in stance whereas Harley stands tall with his chest out.
Lastly, this is Ringo. I have NO idea what to think on his/her sex. This is the only one I have no hunch about. It's extremely shy so I haven't really gotten to know it... It's also a cuckoo maran, and is our only one with dark legs.. (I've heard this is a male characteristic?) Unfortunately I haven't got great photos of Ringo, he's very dark so difficult to photography in indoor light.
And lastly, here are a few photos of them together... Excuse the mess in their brooder, this was just prior to cleaning it out (They can seriously make a hell of a mess in that thing, especially considering that their brooder box is 1mx80cm for just the 4 of them!)
Above: Cadbury at the very back, Basil is the yellow one, Harley next to Basil and Ringo on the floor in front of Cadbury...
Above: Cadbury (brown one), Ringo (black one), Harley (perched on the box in the corner)
ABove: Basil (yellow one), Harley
Above: Basil (yellow one, Harley
Anyway, those are my kiddies This is more just for interests sakes as I've been pondering since day 1! Let me know what you all think I'd love to know!
P.s Is it normal that they can fly already?!
Thanks for any input guys, much appreciated!
Amber
Okay so I made a homemade incubator and wanted to test it out with a very small amount of eggs just for fun, as we wanted them as pets to keep in the garden. Out of the 6 or 7 that were fertile, 4 hatched. The rest died in the first week of incubation after a really bad temperature spike
There is one whom I am almost certain is a roo.. I just have this feeling. It always perched higher than the others and its comb is very slighty larger, and its legs are far thicker, but at the same time, I just can't be sure. I also read somewhere that the roos will generally chirp loudly if one of the other chicks is out of the brooder, and whenever I take one out to cuddle, he/she goes crazy. BUT, his/her feathers are a bit more developed than the others... Tried to feather sex but not too sure what to look for and don't think it can anyway be done with my lot
Anyway... I will start with the one I think is a roo, Harley... He is also slightly bigger than the others. He is a cuckoo maran.
This is Basil... My only rhode island red that hatched out. I can't decide if I think he's a roo or a pullet. I'm swaying towards a roo, but think it's just because he looked like my old pet rooster I hatched out...
This next one is Cadbury, also a cuckoo maran. Got a feeling this one is a pullet. Her head is far rounder and she is much more subdued and compared to Harley, she cowars in stance whereas Harley stands tall with his chest out.
Lastly, this is Ringo. I have NO idea what to think on his/her sex. This is the only one I have no hunch about. It's extremely shy so I haven't really gotten to know it... It's also a cuckoo maran, and is our only one with dark legs.. (I've heard this is a male characteristic?) Unfortunately I haven't got great photos of Ringo, he's very dark so difficult to photography in indoor light.
And lastly, here are a few photos of them together... Excuse the mess in their brooder, this was just prior to cleaning it out (They can seriously make a hell of a mess in that thing, especially considering that their brooder box is 1mx80cm for just the 4 of them!)
Above: Cadbury at the very back, Basil is the yellow one, Harley next to Basil and Ringo on the floor in front of Cadbury...
Above: Cadbury (brown one), Ringo (black one), Harley (perched on the box in the corner)
ABove: Basil (yellow one), Harley
Above: Basil (yellow one, Harley
Anyway, those are my kiddies This is more just for interests sakes as I've been pondering since day 1! Let me know what you all think I'd love to know!
P.s Is it normal that they can fly already?!
Thanks for any input guys, much appreciated!
Amber