Mixed run confusion

[kevinwood]

Nine weeks ago my wife and I got 15 mixed run chickens from a friend of a friend. They are a mixture of Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons and either Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers( there seems to be a lot of confusion on these breeds). Naturally they are starting to get their adult features and we're trying to figure out which are the cockerels and which are hens. Two of them are starting to crow and have very pronounced combs etc so that's a no brainer but others are hard to tell. When I look at photos both at BYC and others sometimes the hens have pronounced combs as well so we're a bit confused. Eventually we'll know when they do or don't lay eggs, but there must be some rock solid tips on gender identification.

Also, what to do with the unwanted males...most of the chat revolves around finding homes for them but here in our part of Maine it seems almost impossible to get rid of roosters as everyone has the same issue. We tried Craig's List and adds at the feed and grain store but to no avail. Short of killing them myself what is there to do?

Thanks,
kevinwood

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Nine weeks ago my wife and I got 15 mixed run chickens from a friend of a friend. They are a mixture of Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons and either Ameraucanas or Easter Eggers( there seems to be a lot of confusion on these breeds). Naturally they are starting to get their adult features and we're trying to figure out which are the cockerels and which are hens. Two of them are starting to crow and have very pronounced combs etc so that's a no brainer but others are hard to tell. When I look at photos both at BYC and others sometimes the hens have pronounced combs as well so we're a bit confused. Eventually we'll know when they do or don't lay eggs, but there must be some rock solid tips on gender identification.

Also, what to do with the unwanted males...most of the chat revolves around finding homes for them but here in our part of Maine it seems almost impossible to get rid of roosters as everyone has the same issue. We tried Craig's List and adds at the feed and grain store but to no avail. Short of killing them myself what is there to do?

Thanks,
kevinwood

Welcome to BYC - as it sounds like you are fairly new to the sexing game, I would suggest taking some photos of your birds and posting them here. Try to get them either individually, or at least in small groups and show as much of each bird as possible. There are several different very reliable characteristics that can be used, but many are somewhat nuanced and recognizing them comes with experience - while they are easy to see for those who know what they are looking at, they can be somewhat difficult to describe in text. At 9+ weeks your birds should be fairly easy to start sorting out for you
As you have seen, the unfortunate truth of chicken keeping is that there are more roosters hatched than homes needing/wanting roosters - being processed for table use is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it is done with knowledge that the bird had a good, even if short, life. If you are unable/unwilling to do so yourself you would likely have more luck marketing them on CL, etc as table birds vs. trying to find "pet" homes for them - or, at the very least, not asking what the intended purpose of the bird is if someone comes calling.
Even if it's only the two that you know of now that turn out being male you are already somewhat out of balance on M/F ratio so any additional males that reveal themselves will only further add to the potential negative sides of having too many males in a flock.

 

[ve]

On your avatar picture there are 6 boys and 4 girls

 

[kevinwood]

Hi,

We had it the other way around and so did some other back yard chicken aficionados but others said the same thing as you. Some of the Amercaunas that we've seen [photos of the hens also have fairly pronounced combs.

 

[keesmom]

You can butcher the excess cockerels yourself. Or depending on where you are in Maine you could take them to West Gardiner Beef or Grealey's Turkey Farm and have them butcher for you.

 

[kevinwood]

Hi,

I had originally planned on doing that, having grown up visiting my grand parents farm and helping with that chore, however my wife is having no part of that. I will look into the two places you mentioned - that's a great idea. I was just thinking that maybe some food kitchens that feed people who need help might have an avenue for this type of situation.

Thanks,

kevinwood

 

[kevinwood]

Hello Again,

At what age would you consider butchering them?

 

[donrae]

Butcher ages for these breeds are from 16-22 weeks. Depends on how obnoxious the bird in question is

I think some of your sexing confusion is not taking age into account when you're looking at pictures on the web. You say "hens also have red combs"....and this is indeed true. Mature hens have red combs. On a hen, a red plump comb is a sign of sexual maturity. At only 9 weeks, your birds are technically pullets and sexually immature. Any bird with a red comb at 9 weeks is a male.