I think I got gyped

[newbiemoron]

I bought these “hens” and didn’t get to see them real well. From what I can tell these are roosters and not hens.

I got 6 and two were in a carrier but the other 4 were in a boxes and didn’t open it up enough to inspect them.

oh and they are supposed to be 1 yr old Isa Browns which I am starting to doubt too.

 

[Mylied]

They look like rough looking hens to me. Some good food, a good molt and I'm sure they'll be fine. They probably won't lay for a bit because of the stress of the move.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Any of them crowing? If they are 1 yr old, you've got hens.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. They are production birds of some sort, and all are hens - I'd be more concerned that you were sold spent birds.

 

[keesmom]

They're hens. They definitely could use some good feed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Those are exactly what you were told they are....

 

[newbiemoron]

Hi thank you all for the quick and helpful information. I was just worried given I am not supposed to have roosters.

I didn’t think that it’s possible they are much older than 1yr. But I guess I will see what happens in a while if they start laying again.

I saw the one chicken the feathers pucked off it’s neck figured it was a non dominant chicken at the farm. Hopefully it would do better here. I am going to google the molting thing one of you mentioned. I bought the 16 percent layer pellets from tractor supply plus some crushed shells. Plus some scratch and gotta get them some snacks (meal worms)
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciate.

thanks

 

[pozees2]

If they are a year old they should molt sometime in the next six months. They generally molt at 18 months of age and once a year afterwards. Feathers are made of protein, so feeding them a higher protein feed will help them complete the molt faster without depleting their bodies of any remaining protein reserves. You can ensure they have enough calcium by providing a free choice dish of oyster shell on the side. Higher protein feeds would include chick starter, meat bird starter/grower, Flock Raiser, All Flock, etc. - the highest protein feeds are game bird starters at 24% (actually I think there are some even higher now that I'm thinking about it, I can't remember what the formulation is called) but even 18% is going to be more helpful to them than 16%. Mealworms are a great protein booster and a wonderful bonding tool. If they haven't had them before it may take them a few tries to catch on, but once they do, if you've associated some word or phrase with giving them to them, it will be easier to get them to go somewhere you want them - back in the run, over to another part of the yard, etc.

 

[newbiemoron]

Any of them crowing? If they are 1 yr old, you've got hens.

Oh yeah they were esp during the ride home.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh yeah they were esp during the ride home.

Crowing? Like cock-a-doodle-doo crowing??? I doubt that highly. Those are hens you've got there.