My Australorp chicks, are they roos or hens? Expert eyes needed please

[Chickadee64]

Hi guys, I took a couple of close-up photos of the two (out of the 4) Australorp chicks that have the smaller combs and wattles and I'm hoping that these might not be cockerels? I'd love your input. I don't know exactly how old they are but I am guessing about 7 weeks? All 4 chicks are about the same size so that's not much help to me. I've scrutinised their plumage to see if there's any difference as I read that this can be a determining factor, but I'm not quite sure what I should be looking for, but all 4 chicks' feathers look the same to me. The legs on the other two chicks with the redder and larger combs and wattles are maybe a tiny bit thicker than these two chicks, but it might be wishful thinking on my part. Anyway, here they are. Your experienced eyes and opinions would be gratefully received.

 

[chickentrains]

cockerels

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Agreed. Cockerels.

 

[Turkeytom25]

I find it hard to tell from pictures. If you look at the plumage cockerels will eventually develop pointed feathers in the neck and back feathers, hens will have more round or oval
feathers.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Cockrels.x

 

[Skyle]

These combs are too red to be pullets. They're cockerels

 

[Chickadee64]

Thank you all, this confirms my suspicions that my 4 chicks that I was sold (promised as hens) with their mama are indeed cockerels The kiddies that I teach are going to be so sad to see them go as they have all grown to love them, as have I. How will the mama cope if I take her babies away? Is it kinder to take her back to the farm I got them from along with the babies sooner rather than later? I'd love to keep her but if I get two young pullets, how would she cope with that? She is about 2-3 (so I was told) and is a big Light Sussex.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How will the mama cope if I take her babies away? Is it kinder to take her back to the farm I got them from along with the babies sooner rather than later? I'd love to keep her but if I get two young pullets, how would she cope with that? She is about 2-3 (so I was told) and is a big Light Sussex.

She'll wean them sooner or later so she may not be that upset to see them go, especially if she's close to that point.

If you decide to get more pullets instead, they will need to be integrated in, but I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as you have enough space for the the birds.

If you opt against the pullets and can't keep males, then yes it'd be best to return her rather than keeping her as a solitary bird.

 

[Chickadee64]

She'll wean them sooner or later so she may not be that upset to see them go, especially if she's close to that point.

If you decide to get more pullets instead, they will need to be integrated in, but I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as you have enough space for the the birds.

If you opt against the pullets and can't keep males, then yes it'd be best to return her rather than keeping her as a solitary bird.

Thank you for your words of wisdom. We definitely want to have 3 or 4 hens so she (Barbara ) wouldn't be on her own.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

If the 4 cockerel chicks are 7 weeks old, mama hen is not too far away from weaning them anyway. She might look for the chicks a day or two, and that would likely be it. By age 7 weeks, the hen might not even acknowledge their absence at all. If you like her, i think you should keep her. Integrating young pullets with her shouldnt be too difficult, depending on their age. Yes the hen will be older and more dominant, but as long as you get at least two pullets, they will have strength in numbers. Where would you get the pullets? If from the same farm that sold you boys when they promised girls, not sure i would do business with that farm anymore. At least not unless they back their guarrantee by exchanging the cockerels for pullets. (Also, saying the hen is "about 2 or 3" tells me the hen could just as easily be "about 4 or 5.) If the seller is ethical and made an honest mistake, they should be eager to rectify their mistake and make it right with you. Otherwise, i would return the cockerels and find some pullets from another source. One of the safest ways to acquire chickens is through feedstores that get their chicks from large reputable hatcheries. You can buy sexed pullets, but even then the only way to Guarrantee u have pullets is to buy red, gold, or black sex-links. (That means at birth the down color of girls is different from boys). Im very sorry for your disappointment, and those of your school kiddos. Dont give up though; chickens are so much fun. And it sounds like you've already discovered that.