If I get chicks, how do I figre out the roos and when?

[truebluexf]

If I can't find any already sexed and go straight run, when/how do I figure out sex? My big concern is crowing. Do I keep them indoors til then? I would think outside would be much better....or do I just have to wait until I can order pullets and/or find them locally?

 

[chicmom]

Hello-

Sometimes it's really hard to tell exactly who's a roo and who's a hen with chicks. You would look for signs like, bigger combs and waddles(wattles?), bigger legs and feet, alot of chest bumping and pointy hackle feathers (around the neck), and sometimes you can see the longer, more colorful tail feathers developing. Also, sometimes a rooster can take longer to feather out--keeping their baby fuzz longer than the females.

It's ok to put them out, if temps are right, and roos usually don't start crowing very early......I've had several roosters now and sometimes they don't crow until they look almost full grown, other times, it's a little bit earlier.....

Hope this helps,
Sharon

 

[cobrien]

If crowing is a problem are you prepared to eat or have someone else eat the roosters? If not, I'd hold out for sexed chicks, but still be prepared for ~1 in 10 or 20 to be a rooster. Note that some breeds like Polish and some fancy breeds can't be sexed as babies. The safest bet is to get sex linked, where the females are one color and males another. I've only had a few roosters in my life but they have crowed at around 4-5 months. Chicks should be kept warm and most keep them indoors for 4-5 weeks but most move them outside before they reach crowing age. You would not want a bunch of 1+ month old chickens in your house it will be a dusty stinky mess. Not to say some don't do it but I wouldn't. And a bunch of 4 month old chickens in the house would be impossible to keep up with IMO.

 

[truebluexf]

I have no problem selling off the roos, my husband is just so nervous about them suddenly crowing before we know they are roos. Neighbors are cooperative but crowing might change that, lol. I want australorps and easter eggers if that makes any difference. I know the latter is harder to sex.