How to tell the diffrence between chicks?

[a123andpoof]

I was just reading a thread about tsc and thought it might be a good idea to ask this. How do you tell the diffrence between rhode island chicks from other chicks, are there any identifieing markings or something? We are going to look at tsc for them and if they don't have them probally going to look elsewehere, but in case they do I thought it would be good to know so we don't end up with the wrong kind of chickens. My parents are pretty set on these....I could care less all chickens are fine with me haha Also how do you tell the diffrence between a chicken and a rooster on the reds, and on silkies?

Oh and a quick questian on incubation, will a ten gallon fish tank work for the first couple of weeks? And if so how many can fit in there?

Thanks for any help

 

[Judy]

Depends which breeds they get. Last year my TSC had brown, black and gold; easy. They were RIR, Black Australorp, and Buff Orps. Different TSC's get different breeds, though. I don't know much about silkies but believe they are usually sold straight run (both sexes) because sexing the chick is too difficult. The RIR were most likely sexed at the hatchery and will be all female, which in reality will be about 90% female. You won't know whether you have a roo til they grow up, although I would avoid any that stretched their neck out and seemed to hold their head above the others; this is by no means a certain sign that it is male, but might decrease your chances of getting a roo. What TSC sells as RIR, BTW, are more correctly called production reds. They are RIR which has been crossed in their lineage to increase egg production, and will grow up to be a little smaller and lighter than breed standard RIR. Whatever breeds they have, if the hatchery has sexed them, the sign or an employee SHOULD know, or it may be posted on papers sent from the hatchery.

Chicks need about .5 sq ft per chick for a week or two, then 1 sq ft per chick til about 4 weeks, then more. It is easy to overheat them in a small container like an aquarium. I don't know how big a 10 gallon aquarium is, but I imagine I'd be moving them to something larger within a few days. They will fly out of it in a week or so, too.

chicken = all chickens
chick = very young chickens
pullet = female under one year
hen = female over one year
cockerel = male under one year
rooster = male over one year

Here is a thread on brooders:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6233

 

[Melinda35]

If you want to make sure you get the right ones just order them from Ideal. I ordered 15 pullets last May and only one ended up being a rooster. I think I got a pretty good deal. They were all healthy and are actually still doing great. My TSC in Central Texas will have RIR, New Hampshire Reds and Production Reds all in the same bin. I have not looked at them so I don't know that you can tell them apart. When I called this is what they told me and also said you don't know which one is which.

Sorry, don't know how many can fit in a 10 gallon fish tank. I am not sure on the dimensions of one. You can always start out with it and as they grow move to something bigger. I love my RIRs. They are calm and friendly. I never had problems with them trying to fly out of the brooder box like I am having with my EEs and Bared Rocks right now.

Here is a not so good picture of my RIRs last year.

 

[FMAFarms]

If you are looking specifically for Rhode Island Reds, you might want to call TSC before heading over there to ask if they have any RIRs in. This is of course no guarantee, since I've seen them misclassify chicks before. The RIR chick looks like this:

A russet/coppery head, neck, and back, orange-ish feet, golden beak, usually patches of gold on its chin, around its eyes, on its belly. If you go to TSC they'll be in a bin most likely labelled "Red Pullets."

I'm assuming you mean brooder and not incubator, since a 10-gallon fish tank would never work as an incubator.

I've never heard of anyone using an aquarium as a brooder, but if you line it with newspaper, add pine shavings, then top it with paper towels and have a waterer and feeder in there and a heat lamp on it, I suppose it would work. Chicks will need room to roam, though, so I wouldn't put more than five or six in there. And that would only last two weeks MAXIMUM since RIRs are heavy breeds.

 

[7L Farm]

Here's a RIR just hatched!!!

 

[a123andpoof]

Okay thanks! The pics were very helpful! We are getting RIR and I told my parents and I AM getting silkies since I am the one who wanted the chickens and will be doing the most care XD and yes I meant brooder haha It's still early here. Anyone have pictures of silkies or are they a breed I should just recoginze? I will have my dad call tractor supply to see what they have. I don't know if we will order my mom doesn't like the idea of the poor chicks being shipped. And it sounds like the tank wouldn't work for the RIR but maybe the silkies being they are smaller? If not we will probally just use a couple boxes and tubs.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The chicks ARE shipped!!!!!! Whether directly to you, or to TSC. I don't mind picking some up at the store, but I much prefer the chicks skip that step of stress and handling and be shipped directly to me.

 

[FMAFarms]

Quote:
Early is part of the life of a poultry farmer.

Tractor Supply does NOT sell Silkies. Silkies are not even on their special-order list. Silkies also usually sell out quickly at the major hatcheries. Meyer Hatchery does not have Silkies until mid June at the earliest. Ideal Poultry doesn't have Silkies until May and you have to ask to be put on their notification list. McMurray has some limited availability in April. Understand that Silkies cannot be sexed until they're several weeks old and the males begin to grow in their combs, so you may end up with a couple of roosters since Silkies are always sold straight run. Silkies are also more high maintenance than other breeds and even other ornamentals. You'll want to hand-train them several times a day so that they get used to you. They are very susceptible to heat and to cold, so you'll need a well ventilated and well insulated coop if you are planning on keeping them outside (a lot of Silkie owners keep them inside, often as pets). You'll want to get at least three Silkies, because they are a very social bird. Be prepared to be bathing the chicks regularly, since they tend to get poop stuck to the down and feathers below their vents. That being said, Silkies are very smart and loving, docile birds. They love bird toys, especially mirrors and bells. Yes, you could keep more in an aquarium than the heavy-breed RIRs, but if you are serious about raising Silkies, I would recommend getting yourself a galvanized washtub -- 17 gallons is a good size for three to five Silkies -- and use that as your brooder. They will grow out of it eventualy, but not as fast as a standard bird would.

Let me dig up some photos of our Silkies...

This is Himalaya, who hatched on Monday:

Here's another of our Monday hatchlings. Haven't named this one yet:

If you do manage to order them from a hatchery, be sure to NOT order standard-sized chicks as well. Silkies are very delicate, tiny bantams who get easily smushed by bigger chicks during shipping. That being said, your best bet will be Meyer or Ideal, since they have a 3-bird minimum (Meyer)/$25 minimum (Ideal). Other hatcheries, you'll need to order 25 Silkies and at this point in the year that'll be a hard thing to find. You might want to try Craigslist for local Silkie breeders. Or you can contact the American Bantam Association to ask for a registered Silkie breeder in your area.

 

[a123andpoof]

Haha well that is okay with me, I wake up early most days.

Wow thanks for all the tips on Silkies! They definatly will not live in the house lol my parents would not allow it. And I think my old cat would hunt it... They would go with the other chickens. I am hoping to get at least 3 of them. And I have found a few people on craigslist that are selling them. And thank you for the care tips, very helpful! I have a few other pets so I am definatly up for giving the silkies a little extra tlc.

Yes I do realize they are all shipped, but I think my mom perfers not to think that haha