New Chicken Mama/I think I have roos...were all supposed to be pullets

[andreapnsunshine]

OK, so I'm new to raising chicks and I have a million questions, but right now, I'm mostly worried that I have roosters, not hens....they were all supposed to be female, egg layers, which is why I got them. Not sure of the breed, I was told they were called 'Super Giant Cornish' from the farm store where I got them. They are all white now, huge yellow legs (look like dinosaurs feet) and they all have big, bright red combs that stand up straight, and huge danglies on each side of their beaks....also recently developed red 'ears' near where I could see their little ear holes before. I think they are about 9 weeks old. They grew like crazy, doubled in size weekly. Now I'm hearing 'croaking' in the morning, kind of throaty sound like a child with the croup! I've heard so many different opinions about how to tell if they are M or F...One of them has become a little 'pecky' with me, but the others are competely tame. They are more like pets than livestock! Any opinions would be appreciated.
(I am still trying to figure out how to attach pictures here, sorry)
Thanks!
Andrea

 

[speckledhen]

Hon, those aren't meant to be egglayers, but meat birds. That's why they are so huge. They don't usually live past about 12 weeks old because their hearts give out by then. You actually have to restrict their food to keep them from eating themselves to death. I have no idea if they are all roosters, but in my opinion, you'll need to start over with your egglayers, I believe. Sorry. Do they lay around alot? You said "Super Giant Cornish", but usually the Cornish X is what most folks think of as the quintessential meat bird. Sounds like you got the Cornish X's.

 

[vtsarahb]

speckledhen is right... they sound like meat birds. sorry

 

[andreapnsunshine]

Nooooooooo! That's not fair! When I went back to buy feed at the same farm store, they told me some story about Kentucky Fried Chicken using the same type of birds to make their meals, but they insisted they were hens and would lay. I'm so bummed out. So, do you think I should just let them free range as they have been, and they'll pass peacefully? I'm a vegetarian, so I would never eat them....besides they are too much like pets already!
They do lay around a lot, and they do eat constantly....

 

[speckledhen]

I dont know how to handle it, but they were full of poop when they told you that you were buying egglayers. I think I'd ask for a refund of the purchase price, personally. You can let them live out their lives peacefully, but that won't be for much longer, from my experience.

 

[Katy]

I agree with Speckledhen....I'd be asking for a refund from the store. It ticks me off when people are selling stuff they know absolutely nothing about and then mislead the customer. Whether it was intentional or not, you didn't get what you paid for and were told that you were getting.

 

[andreapnsunshine]

Ok. thank you for your experience. I really appreciate your response. That answers a lot of questions, at least. I guess I'll start over.

 

[Mahonri]

Yup, I'd be upset... and Cyn put it nicely... they are full of IT!

Oh, and by the way. WELCOME TO BYC!!! Hope we can be of more help in the future... with real laying hens!

 

[AHappychick]

being that you are a vegitarian and I am assuming too attatcked to sell them right? if not then put them on craigs list, they were designed to grow fast and will not be able to live with the quick growth. They will start to die (probably heart attacks) at they get older. There have been some people who have gotten them to live longer by putting asprin in their water but you would have to do a search and it would not be easy. you could maybe sell the boys and keep the girls and give it a try.

If they are already pets it may be very hard to watch them die one by one. I am so sorry you were fooled this way.

welcome to byc by the way

 

[Uppity Peon]

Take a look at this chart and decide what breed or breeds you want for egg-laying. I'm sorry you ended up with the wrong type. You definitely deserve a refund for the price of the chicks AND feed.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html