I’m worried I may have a male?!

[CannedMonster]

Did you buy them from a local place or more of a commercial business like tractor supply? If i remember correctly tractor supply does take “pullets” that turned out to be cockerels and will slaughter them for you. So if you did get it from tractor supply and don’t want to have them slaughtered i wouldn’t recommend bringing them back!

Since when?
Tractor Supply has nothing to do with slaughtering anything.
My friend has worked there for a while and they don’t take cockerels back either.
If she complains a lot she might get her money back but that’s a big maybe.

Tractor Supply and many feed stores hire employees that don’t know much about chickens.
Buyer beware!
It’s better to learn about any animal before committing to it.
Some feed store buyers don’t even ask what straight run means.
The feed stores rely on the hatcheries they source their chicks from to sex them but there’s still a 10-15% possibility of error.
The same with chicks ordered through the mail.
Plus the employees are notorious for putting the wrong labels on the bins too.

 

[MROO]

Wait until when??!!!

Until you get either a crow or an egg! ... Nah - give him/her another week or two and post some more pictures. Make sure you get a good one from the side that shows neck feathers along with the comb, one from the front and a good all-over profile. That comb looks awfully bright and substantial for a pullet and the legs may be a bit thick, but neither is pronounced enough to make any guarantees. I'm leaning a bit towards cockerel, but there's still hope!

 

[rosemarythyme]

This all started because I asked in another thread how to tell if they are ready to start laying and someone commented that he may be a male. I will be heartbroken if I have to find him a new home.

Sorry the results weren't what you were hoping for, but glad you got a lot more feedback on your bird. Given the new photos, I also think it's a cockerel.

How does the feed store sell them as females? They just say they know but they really don’t?!

As others noted, sexing isn't an exact science and a good feed store/hatchery will tell you that there's a margin of error, usually around 10% for sexed birds that aren't sexlinks. Feed stores don't sex their own chicks, it's on the hatchery or breeder. So yes, accidental boys happen.

I know the girls make noise too. I’m just hoping they can’t be heard from the front of the house.

How big is your lot? I'm on 4 acres, my closest neighbors are on 2... I can hear my loudest hen 1 lot past that. They're not all that loud, but you won't know until they're older if you have a chatterbox, a screamer, or quiet ones.

 

[coltgrizzz]

Since when?
Tractor Supply has nothing to do with slaughtering anything.
My friend has worked there for a while and they don’t take cockerels back either.
If she complains a lot she might get her money back but that’s a big maybe.

Tractor Supply and many feed stores hire employees that don’t know much about chickens.
Buyer beware!
It’s better to learn about any animal before committing to it.
Some feed store buyers don’t even ask what straight run means.
The feed stores rely on the hatcheries they source their chicks from to sex them but there’s still a 10-15% possibility of error.
The same with chicks ordered through the mail.
Plus the employees are notorious for putting the wrong labels on the bins too.

That’s odd the place i go to does? When i got birds from them a year ago the guy who was picking out the chicks even flat out told me that if we got chicks from a pullet bin that turned out to be cockerels they would take them back. Perhaps it’s just the one i go to? Maybe they source their birds from a place where they sell chicken as food and use unwanted cockerels as such? I honestly have no idea

 

[Melissacoop]

Did you buy them from a local place or more of a commercial business like tractor supply? If i remember correctly tractor supply does take “pullets” that turned out to be cockerels and will slaughter them for you. So if you did get it from tractor supply and don’t want to have them slaughtered i wouldn’t recommend bringing them back!

Omg! No I don’t want him slaughtered!! I got them from the local feed store. I will call them.

 

[jolenesdad]

It’s likely that the feed store will get a refund from the hatchery. You can ask them if they know anyone or if you can put up a sign to rehome him. You can also put an ad on Craigslist. I usually say something like $25.00 negotiable to a good home and give them away when someone wants them. It weeds out someone who will immediately slaughter, and I’ve never had to wait more than a week or so to find a good home.

Understand and be okay with the fact that once he is gone he is no longer yours and roosters can develop alternate personalities and may need to be culled but you can give him the very best chance and that’s all you can do.

I don’t have experience with roosters, and, I’m aware that the best chance I can give them is to get them into more experienced hands as quickly as possible so that I don’t create a monster not knowing how to establish appropriate rooster boundaries.

It’s an unfortunate side of chickens however, you have to look at the fact that most all day old chicks that are male are euthanized immediately, and know you have done your best for this one.

 

[Melissacoop]

Well Now that you all said he was a cockerel his behavior fits the picture. He’s the most standoffish and as I’m watching his behavior today he’s kinda a bully!!

 

[Melissacoop]

It’s likely that the feed store will get a refund from the hatchery. You can ask them if they know anyone or if you can put up a sign to rehome him. You can also put an ad on Craigslist. I usually say something like $25.00 negotiable to a good home and give them away when someone wants them. It weeds out someone who will immediately slaughter, and I’ve never had to wait more than a week or so to find a good home.

Understand and be okay with the fact that once he is gone he is no longer yours and roosters can develop alternate personalities and may need to be culled but you can give him the very best chance and that’s all you can do.

I don’t have experience with roosters, and, I’m aware that the best chance I can give them is to get them into more experienced hands as quickly as possible so that I don’t create a monster not knowing how to establish appropriate rooster boundaries.

It’s an unfortunate side of chickens however, you have to look at the fact that most all day old chicks that are male are euthanized immediately, and know you have done your best for this one.

I appreciate your kind words and all your suggestions. You obviously can tell I’m attached to my birds!!
I am going to find a place for him this week and have my husband take him while I am out of town next weekend!! Lol!
I am an animal person lover and believe in what’s right for the animals!

 

[LavvyTaffy]

That's a shame you can't keep him. Roosters are a great addition to flocks and all these people just talking about aggression is sadly not the case. Sure they can be aggressive but you can teach them, but it takes a lot of time. But none of my roosters from day one have been aggressive towards me, pets, strangers, or even the other chickens. NONE. And I had eighteen at one time. (11 have since been rehomed.) So everyone is screaming aggression, but he could be different, only time will tell. But I'm awful sorry he's a roo. TSC did the same thing with one of my Cuckoo Marans. Pullet bin, sweet cockerel boy. And I really hope that isn't the case with my EE's.
Best of luck!

 

[Melissacoop]

That's a shame you can't keep him. Roosters are a great addition to flocks and all these people just talking about aggression is sadly not the case. Sure they can be aggressive but you can teach them, but it takes a lot of time. But none of my roosters from day one have been aggressive towards me, pets, strangers, or even the other chickens. NONE. And I had eighteen at one time. (11 have since been rehomed.) So everyone is screaming aggression, but he could be different, only time will tell. But I'm awful sorry he's a roo. TSC did the same thing with one of my Cuckoo Marans. Pullet bin, sweet cockerel boy. And I really hope that isn't the case with my EE's.
Best of luck!

Thank you so much. Unfortunately I live in the city and I found out after the fact that I’m not supposed to have chickens so I definitely can’t have a rooster!!
( I know I should’ve checked before getting them but I kinda figured).