Male chicks

[Kathleen Spielman]

Hi there - I'm about to go purchase baby chicks from a local feed store. The city of Boulder, CO will not allow roosters. What does one do if you get a rooster in the flock of chicks purchased? I'm not sure how to handle that. - Thanks! Kathleen

 

[Mamatomany123]

Rehome or eat them. It's up to you.

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

Hi! I would buy extra just in case. But once you bring them home you can do your own wing sexing. Depending on the age you can have a clear veiw of what is a male and what is a female. Click Here to learn how to wing sex. Female chicks will have two rows of feathers one short row, and some long ones. Males may have varying lenghts of feathers, but it's typically only one row. If you find you have any males after about 2 weeks, sell them on craiglist or raise them for meat. Hope that helps. The video linked should help!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Hi! I would buy extra just in case. But once you bring them home you can do your own wing sexing. Depending on the age you can have a clear veiw of what is a male and what is a female. Click Here to learn how to wing sex. Female chicks will have two rows of feathers one short row, and some long ones. Males may have varying lenghts of feathers, but it's typically only one row. If you find you have any males after about 2 weeks, sell them on craiglist or raise them for meat. Hope that helps. The video linked should help!


View attachment 2102373

Wing sexing only works on chicks specifically bred for this.

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

Wing sexing only works on chicks specifically bred for this.

I understand that, but I have had great success with it, and it's way better than wasting money rasing full grown cockerels to sell or eat. I'm not saying it will work but it's an option that may help.

 

[Mamatomany123]

The best option I can think of is to get sexlinked chickens. Still can end up with a cockerel but chances are much lower.

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

The best option I can think of is to get sexlinked chickens. Still can end up with a cockerel but chances are much lower.

I agree! I have some black sex links myself! They are also tremendous brown egg layers, and are very, very docile!

 

[wamtazlady]

If I couldn't have a rooster I would also buy sexlinked chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Glad you're thinking about this in advance, but yes, best to come up with a plan that's agreeable with your family, whether it's rehoming it, butchering it, simply killing it, donating it to a raptor rescue, etc.

Our current plan is donating them to a local farm that accepts "free dinners."