I have confused myself! Sexing our chickens.

[ChickenGrandma2202]

They all have the sweetest little faces

For me, without knowing the ages or breed or breed mix I can't tell.

Could you post pics next week and we can see how they're feathering out? Do you know what breed(s) they are? I might have missed that in your original post.

Such beautiful little birds!!!

Thank you!! I have been amazed at just how personalities of each has started to show. I know they have Buff in them and Rhode Island Red but unsure on other. Again can ask. I will definitely post pictures next week

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Your chicks are very cute! If you want to keep a cockerel (and with so few pullets, only one will do), then wait and watch them grow up as long as you can. Manage them as cockerels, not cute cuddly pets, as IMO 'spoiled' cockerels, the boldest and 'friendly ones' tend to turn out badly. As they start to mature, it may be easy to see who has to go, and who might stay. Mary

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Ah ok.
They are brothers so they are a lot less likely to fight than two random cockerels thrown in together.
It is rare for brothers to fight extremely badly.

-Jet

As I understand it, being brothers and knowing each other their whole lives matters not at all once those hormones kick in.

 

[Jetblack2004]

I said they are a lot less likely to fight, which is true. I didn't say they won't fight.

We did have a cockerel kill his brother once. The cockerel was a particuarly nasty bird. I've kept lots of brothers together that are fine with each other, though.

 

[keesmom]

We live in the country so no neighbors to worry about We were more under the impression that they would fight each other???

They may, they may not. A lot of factors are involved. Their individual personalities, how much space they have, how many females you have, etc.

How many hens do you plan to have?

 

[sourland]

As I understand it, being brothers and knowing each other their whole lives matters not at all once those hormones kick in.

Some of the most intense fights my birds have had have been among brood mates. Something as simple as a rainy day when they get wet and look like 'strangers' can set them off.

Interestingly some of the worst dog fights I have ever experienced have been among litter mates frequently resulting in lifelong dislike.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Some of the most intense fights my birds have had have been among brood mates. Something as simple as a rainy day when they get wet and look like 'strangers' can set them off.

Interestingly some of the worst dog fights I have ever experienced have been among litter mates frequently resulting in lifelong dislike.

I had a pair of litter mates, they constantly got to eachother. It was just like human siblings, they knew which buttons to push.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

The first one looks like a pullet. The others look liKe cockerels. You CAN get all the roosters.......but....it is good to only have one rooster for about ten hens. Otherwise, the hens will get bred way to much, and their backs and below the comb will have all the featheres out from the roosters feet on the back, and them hanging on to feathers on the head. Not very nice for the hens.

 

[ChickenGrandma2202]

Thank you so much everyone. This definitely gave us a lot to think about! I will post pics again next week and see what everyone thinks. I'm not sure how many hens we plan to have for those that asked. We have a huge coop for them cause we don't know how to build small so this is a work in progress for sure lol.

 

[drumstick diva]

One rooster can handle 10 hens, so you will need alot of hens if you keep all the roos.
Plus they should be separated into flocks - with one rooster each. Otherwise they will try stealing or fighting over more hens to their harem.