Two days ago I picked up two new groups of chicks. Six 6 week olds, and three 2 week olds. We were kind of shocked when we met the guy with the six week olds and saw them. To us, they are puny, itty bitty. When we got our older chicks, she told us they were 4 weeks old. That was 4 weeks ago, so they should now be 8 weeks old. That would put them 2 weeks older than the ones we just got.
But...the size difference is enormous! The older chicks are easily 3x bigger, at least, than the younger ones. I know the younger ones are def 6 weeks b/c they have most of their feathers, and aren't bantams b/c the guy we got them from says they are growing at the same rate as his Ameraucanas that he got at the same time. My older ones are completely feathered (and look beautiful if I do say so myself <3), and most have already started their pathetic attempts at crowing.
The lady that I got the older ones from, when asked what age they were, acted kind of surprised and seemed to just throw a number out there. When we got them, they seemed really big but I had never had chickens before so I had no clue. Even now, I really don't have a reference to go by so I have no idea. Do you think I was lied to about their age? How can I tell what their real age is? All but one are roos b/c they all have crowed already, hence the reason I got more chickens b/c we want eggs. Unless the one is just slow at crowing, do I need to wait until she starts laying? How do I know when to expect that if I don't know their age? *sigh*
This is so frustrating. I'm definitely buying all my chickens from the guy I bought from two days ago from now on.d
But...the size difference is enormous! The older chicks are easily 3x bigger, at least, than the younger ones. I know the younger ones are def 6 weeks b/c they have most of their feathers, and aren't bantams b/c the guy we got them from says they are growing at the same rate as his Ameraucanas that he got at the same time. My older ones are completely feathered (and look beautiful if I do say so myself <3), and most have already started their pathetic attempts at crowing.
The lady that I got the older ones from, when asked what age they were, acted kind of surprised and seemed to just throw a number out there. When we got them, they seemed really big but I had never had chickens before so I had no clue. Even now, I really don't have a reference to go by so I have no idea. Do you think I was lied to about their age? How can I tell what their real age is? All but one are roos b/c they all have crowed already, hence the reason I got more chickens b/c we want eggs. Unless the one is just slow at crowing, do I need to wait until she starts laying? How do I know when to expect that if I don't know their age? *sigh*
This is so frustrating. I'm definitely buying all my chickens from the guy I bought from two days ago from now on.d
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