I have a question about my RIR's combs...

[gumpsgirl]

I have 12 RIR's that are 3 weeks old now. The combs on some of them are growing taller and getting very thick and have an orange tint to them. I have one that is a real pill and am getting more and more convinced everyday is a roo. His comb is one of them that is getting thick and taller. Does this mean that the chicks whose combs I have described are roos?

Some of them still have a short comb. Just curious!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Most likely yes!!... You can tell RIRs apart by 4 weeks...just as you described the cockerals will be getting big red combs and wattles early on...the pullets comb stays quite small and pale...

 

[silkiechicken]

Sounds like you are getting some roo's there.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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Oh dear! That is what I was worried about. That means that I have 4 pullets and 8 roos.

I guess my hubby can't argue with me about getting the 20 pullets that I have reserved at our local farm supply store now, can he?!?!

 

[gumpsgirl]

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Yes. The problem here is that it is TOO MANY roos. Grrrrr.....

 

[Tuffoldhen]

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Oh dear! That is what I was worried about. That means that I have 4 pullets and 8 roos.

I guess my hubby can't argue with me about getting the 20 pullets that I have reserved at our local farm supply store now, can he?!?!

It's ok....lol...first time I ever got RIRs from the feedstore I grew out 5 roosters and 3 hens!!.....

 

[ebonykawai]

I've found that my RIRs were real easy to sex. The boy (one so far, but I have more hatching on Friday) is way behind the others in his feather growing. He also has thicker legs and is the last chick to be caught if we have to move them.

 

[stilwellchick]

I think the thickness and to some degree the length of the legs is an early sign of a roo.

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

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Use the search feature to find a great Coq au Vin recipe that those roos would be perfect for!

 

[gumpsgirl]

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Yes, that's what I thought too. I only had two that were way behind in the feather growing and was so excited to think that I only had to roos! Boy was I wrong! The others feathered out just like my four little pullets did. Don't count on the feathering to be accurate!