My babies at 5 weeks

[Nugget]

What options does a person have with too many roosters? I might have even considered seeing about castrating some if there were only a few, but if I'm looking at possibly 6 out of 7 I can't keep them. That means finding someone who would want them either for meat (more likely) or who wants a rooster (less likely). Might a farmer buy some back if he saw show prospects in them?

The silver lining would be that I do like australorps. Opus was still wet (from the egg) when I brought her home. The farmer thought she might be a GLW. Opus, the amazing breed-changing chicken!

I must say this has been quite an experience so far. I bought a near-adult SLW from the farmer when I got the chicks. She came to me weak, thin and riddled with parasites (lice, mites and intestinal worms). I should have been more wary when I bought them, but the farmer seemed trustworthy and knowledgeable. She got moved to a quarantine coop, I had to bleach out the main coop and am leaving it stand empty for 3 weeks to decontaminate it.

 

[peeps7]

Gumbo, Ruby, and Ros all look like roosters to me.

 

[speckledhen]

I'd say Tulip, Noodle, Gumbo, Ruby, Roz are all boys. Wyandottes dont get pink in their combs or develop real wattles till about three months old.

 

[peeps7]

I agree with speckledhen!!!

 

[Nugget]

Could some people comment on at what point your confidence in the gender of your chicks is great enough to make 'tough' decisions about them (ie, rehoming etc)?

 

[KKluckers]

I try to deny it until they crow.

 

[BantyChickMom]

Concerning Opus,

I don't know about Australorps but jersey giants have black beak and legs
Opus looks exactly like ours did at that age!
What color are the bottom of the feet?

 

[pipermark]

Depends on the breed, I wait until I see saddle feathers.

 

[herechickchick]

Ruby kinda looks like a speckled sussex

 

[Nugget]

Bantychickmom, the bottoms of Opus' feet are pale pinky white
I'm going to get some new photos today. Ruby is a pretty fellow! Thanks for your thoughts, I would love to know what breeds they are.

If a person waits to hear them crow, is that too late to consider selling them to someone for meat? I'd prefer them to go as pets, but can't imagine that's a big market