My flock is now full - but, I think I may have a rooster?

[CluckyCluck]

Well the little yellowish one is quickly turning red under his beek. I see wattles! WAHHHH. He's soooo cute and lovable.

Spoke to the boy, he will replace them. What a nice kid.

Still not sure about the black speckled one. The comb is larger than the white one, but it's not red really. The white ones comb is very small, and pale.

 

[aoxa]

Well the little yellowish one is quickly turning red under his beek. I see wattles! WAHHHH. He's soooo cute and lovable. Spoke to the boy, he will replace them. What a nice kid. Still not sure about the black speckled one. The comb is larger than the white one, but it's not red really. The white ones comb is very small, and pale.

If I were you, I'd ask the age in weeks. If they don't know, move on to another breeder. I think when they are this young, the breeder should know. If they are a week or two off that is not a huge deal, but these birds are months younger then he said. Don't get a bird that is not fully feathered unless you are prepared to raise chicks. I have never had an 8 week old chick that is not fully feathered, but there are breeds that take longer than others. Don't pick out anything with any amount of wattles or a comb that is noticeable. Hope you don't think I'm being negative! I always know the exact age of all my chicks born here. I have a lot of groups too :S Here is an example:

These chicks are 8 weeks old. Seeing the red in their combs, in combination with their wattles, they are both boys.

This is a female. She is 15 weeks old. Look how small her comb is? She only has 5 weeks or so before her first egg.

These chicks here are 4 weeks old. All girls. Barred rocks are sexable once feathered out a bit by colour. Boys will have more white then the girls.

Here is a barred rock pullet @ 7 weeks. Just thought I'd point those tips out when you go to replace them Since the nice boy doesn't know what to look for. Not saying he is not nice because of it at all! Just so you know. One more:

Colour difference between the barred rock genders. Darker is female, lighter male.

 

[CluckyCluck]

Oh I don't think you're being negative!! =) I loved the photos and how the differences are explained.

Picking out chicks felt frantic to me. Like - I rushed myself because I felt bad making them chase chicks. I told him today to take his time, pick out ones that he believes are for sure girls - and put them aside. This way when I go to look at them I can look at them compared to the ones I have and be able to make a real decision without a bunch of chicks flying and flapping around.

The yellow roo, I picked out special for my other (grumpy - typical 14 year old) daughter - so you can imagine that today she really dislikes me knowing he has to go back.

 

[CluckyCluck]

Aoxa - love your blog! And I adore your pictures - your chicks are just *sigh awwww* - adorable!

So I read on your blog, when you cracked the first egg from your youngest chicken, that it was fertile. How can you tell? What does it look like?

 

[aoxa]

Aoxa - love your blog! And I adore your pictures - your chicks are just *sigh awwww* - adorable!

So I read on your blog, when you cracked the first egg from your youngest chicken, that it was fertile. How can you tell? What does it look like?

Aww thanks

It's very easy once you know what to look for:

Fertile:

Infertile

In words: The fertile egg will have a bullseye on the yolk - that means the rooster is doing his job!

Fertile VS infertile makes no difference in taste or quality of the egg for eating

 

[CluckyCluck]

I see!! So - should most flocks have one rooster? Is it better for the flock?

 

[Pele]

I see!! So - should most flocks have one rooster? Is it better for the flock?

I'm sorry your first chicky experience was so disheartening for your kids. It'll get better as you learn more, I promise. You may want to focus on Sex-Link chickens like Black Stars, Gold Comets, Cinnamon Queens, etc. They are hybrids specifically designed so that their gender can be determined by color at birth. Much less gender melodrama.

As far as your above question, your rooster to hen ratio can vary according to the rooster's age, but you generally want to keep it around 1 roo to 6 - 10 hens. Roos usually have only two things on their minds: mating the ladies, and protecting the ladies. You need to have enough hens present so that your roo doesn't wear them down with too much 'attention' (this can get serious: like injuries, malnutrition, loss of egg production, etc).

Your younger roos tend to me more clumsy and able to keep up with a larger number of girls, while your older roos are more suave/gentle and slow down (can be kept with a smaller number of girls).

Hope that helps!

 

[chickenlover89]

It is called a barred rock (or barred plymouth rock) and it looks like a pullet with a large comb for her age

 

[CluckyCluck]

Well, I went back and traded my possible boys in for what I thought was definite girls. I got a barred rock, as the one I had but this one is two weeks old and not 5 weeks old, it has a white spot on the top of the head like you showed me above.

I got a black star (presumably) and some sort of frizzle who knows. The black star (replacing black and white speckled one) and white one, are 4 weeks old he said.

It's so hot right now - I'll see if I can get pictures later or tomorrow. I feel better about them though.

 

[chickenlover89]

does your barred rock have the black legs (in the front)?