Hoping for One Cockerel

[BigECart]

I ordered 6 chicks + bonus from McMurray in April. I wanted a rooster, husband did not (but was ok if I got one). I ended up opting for the SR bonus chick. Sadly McMurray sent a bantam and it did not survive shipping with the larger chicks.

Now my chicks are 9.5 weeks and I think I have all pullets. I did not get good pics of my black minorca or crevecoeur -my iPhone doesn’t focus well on black. Here are the other 4 - I know the legbar is a pullet. The Andalusian looks like a pullet to me, but is quite feisty. The true blue’s face pinked up early, but didn’t turn red. And the buff minorca has the most red, but I suspect their combs develop quicker than other breeds - she’s also the smallest of my chicks.FWIW, there is no red on the black minorca yet. Behavior wise, the Andalusian and true blue whiting are most likely to face off and chest thump. Chicks sure are feisty at this age - I let one of my hens in the run with the chicks a couple of days ago, and the black minorca attacked her - it didn’t turn out quite the way she was expecting, lol.

This is my third generation - lost most of my first (local heritage breeds) to Mareks, I still have 6 (of 9) McMurray hens from my second flock (hatched Oct 2013) and am still getting 2-4 eggs a day.

 

[hysop]

Even if one of those is not a rooster there are tons of roosters this year that are free. Finding one that’s free isn’t hard right now, people are still buying roosters but there are free ones out there.

The last one may be a rooster because of how red its comb and waddles are so you may be in luck.

 

[BigECart]

I think Mareks stays with the flock forever, doesn’t it? One of the chicks in my second flock developed it - we didn’t have the heart to put her down as she was the favorite of one of my kids and she seemed pretty happy, even though paralyzed. She eventually recovered full mobility. Anyways, I am really wary about bringing in new chickens into the flock. McMurray says they will send two bonus chicks in the next order, so maybe we will get one in a couple of years.

We put down a sweet lavender Orpington rooster from the first flock when he lost use of his legs. Enjoyed him for the short time we had him.

 

[hysop]

I think Mareks stays with the flock forever, doesn’t it? One of the chicks in my second flock developed it - we didn’t have the heart to put her down as she was the favorite of one of my kids and she seemed pretty happy, even though paralyzed. She eventually recovered full mobility. Anyways, I am really wary about bringing in new chickens into the flock. McMurray says they will send two bonus chicks in the next order, so maybe we will get one in a couple of years.

We put down a sweet lavender Orpington rooster from the first flock when he lost use of his legs. Enjoyed him for the short time we had him.

I’m sorry. I don’t know much about Mareks but I know I need to brush up on it because it’s always best to be informed.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I ordered 6 chicks + bonus from McMurray in April. I wanted a rooster, husband did not (but was ok if I got one). I ended up opting for the SR bonus chick. Sadly McMurray sent a bantam and it did not survive shipping with the larger chicks.

Now my chicks are 9.5 weeks and I think I have all pullets. I did not get good pics of my black minorca or crevecoeur -my iPhone doesn’t focus well on black. Here are the other 4 - I know the legbar is a pullet. The Andalusian looks like a pullet to me, but is quite feisty. The true blue’s face pinked up early, but didn’t turn red. And the buff minorca has the most red, but I suspect their combs develop quicker than other breeds - she’s also the smallest of my chicks.FWIW, there is no red on the black minorca yet. Behavior wise, the Andalusian and true blue whiting are most likely to face off and chest thump. Chicks sure are feisty at this age - I let one of my hens in the run with the chicks a couple of days ago, and the black minorca attacked her - it didn’t turn out quite the way she was expecting, lol.

This is my third generation - lost most of my first (local heritage breeds) to Mareks, I still have 6 (of 9) McMurray hens from my second flock (hatched Oct 2013) and am still getting 2-4 eggs a day.
View attachment 2226661View attachment 2226661View attachment 2226663View attachment 2226665View attachment 2226666View attachment 2226670

The Buff Orp is a clear boy!
ETA: white lobes? What breed? Is it a bantam?

 

[BigECart]

Here’s a picture of the buff minorca from above, and also pics of the crevecoeur and black minorca.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Here’s a picture of the buff minorca from above, and also pics of the crevecoeur and black minorca.
View attachment 2228243View attachment 2228244View attachment 2228251View attachment 2228253View attachment 2228254View attachment 2228255View attachment 2228256

Buff M is your boy.

 

[BigECart]

The Buff Orp is a clear boy!
ETA: white lobes? What breed? Is it a bantam?

Buff Minorca - much smaller than the black minorca, and much less aggressive. He/she has a nice personality - curious and friendly, but doesn’t like to be handled.

 

[The Happster]

Buff is definitely a boy.
Sad to hear about the ones that died. I have been lucky enough to avoid Mareks so far for eight years....let's see how long that lasts.

 

[BigECart]

I’m still on the fence about Buffy - I will keep updating this thread until he crows/she lays. I took this picture yesterday, so the chicks are 10.5 weeks old. Buffy is one of the least dominant and has a dainty build, but the way those feathers are curving by her/his tail?