I think my Hen is a Rooster 😧

[Muddygurl]

Oh no! LOL maybe, you never know for sure. I thought I had a hen for 10 weeks, then he started crowing. I was so sure is was a hen, I even dressed him up as a pretty hen. Now a days he wears pants.

I have been going out there for weeks saying Hello Pretty Girls

 

[Muddygurl]

He's a very handsome fella. Will you be able to keep him?

I have grown attached to these cuties. Got them at few days old. I’m just learning this whole process and don’t know if I have to separate the boys from the girls haaa

 

[Hei 20]

I have been going out there for weeks saying Hello Pretty Girls

Don't worry, you are not as bad as me. You didn't dress him up in a dress.

 

[JadeFarms]

I have grown attached to these cuties. Got them at few days old. I’m just learning this whole process and don’t know if I have to separate the boys from the girls haaa

You don’t have to do that. Sometimes you have to separate the boys if they fight, but that’s it.

 

[Muddygurl]

You don’t have to do that. Sometimes you have to separate the boys if they fight, but that’s it.

Ok thanks! Got them for eggs!! Scared will see blood or chics instead

 

[JadeFarms]

Ok thanks! Got them for eggs!! Scared will see blood or chics instead

This is a common misconception I hear a lot. They only have a chick if a hen is broody and laying on them or if they were incubated. If a egg has blood in it it’s because when it’s developing, blood gets in the egg, so it would be the hens fault lol.

 

[tsperry88]

I have grown attached to these cuties. Got them at few days old. I’m just learning this whole process and don’t know if I have to separate the boys from the girls haaa

I have a few cockerels that matured extremely fast and were trying to mate at 8 weeks old. I have had to keep them separated from the younger hens as it was getting violent, and plan to keep them separated until all are laying age. Each situation is different.

 

[Muddygurl]

This is a common misconception I hear a lot. They only have a chick if a hen is broody and laying on them or if they were incubated. If a egg has blood in it it’s because when it’s developing, blood gets in the egg, so it would be the hens fault lol.

Thanks! That helps! I have read a lot on raising chickens and it’s a lot of information

 

[Nelson-Collier]

Thanks! That helps! I have read a lot on raising chickens and it’s a lot of information

I second the statement. If you choose to go this route, you can let them mate and either 1. Keep a clutch of eggs in the nesting box for a hen to go broody and hatch them (best success rates) and you can watch her raise her babies, or, you can 2. Pull them out and candle them and incubate them yourself. Read up on candling fertile vs infertile eggs. Even if you don’t do it it’s a fun read and good information

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Lol i love the title of your thread! And you sure brought back the memory of when that same thing happened to me! Like u, i also ordered all pullets, 30 total. Got the 30 pullets for colored eggs. They were easter eggers, so all had tiny little pea combs. When the "girls" were about 10 weeks old, i told my friend that three of the "girls" combs were bigger "peas" than the others. The other combs were so tiny (to my eye at the time) i could barely see them. I went out to sit with and visit with my "girls" one afternoon when they were about 14 weeks old. One of the "pullets" greeted me with that squawky gurgly strangling sound that cockerels make when they first discover their vocal chords. I had never heard that sound before, but instantly knew one of my girls was a boy. And my lower jaw about hit the dirt when i heard it! But but but i ordered all girls!! Well, to make a long story a Little shorter, within a few weeks four of my 30 "girls" were crowing. And then the remaining pullets started going broody the next spring when they turned 7-8 months old. I had never heard of chicken math then, but boy did i experience it firsthand. And thats how i ended up with over 300 chickens. All hatched by broodies; i have zero knowledge re using artificial incubators. (Although i have retained Some info by reading the incubating & hatching forum.) I can give good advice re how to help lots of mama hens sucessfully raise lots of baby chicks tho! Everything i know came from reading countless threads on the various backyard chickens forums. Which i still do, & still have a lot to learn. The wealth of knowledge & experience here is amazing. Have fun with your Seventeen pullets & that one surprise.