New Chicks

[chkva]

We started out with 4 pullets... Long story short 3 were roosters and we learned a lesson about those who predict sexes of chickens We got two red sex link hens and I said "3 is a good number." Yesterday I got 3 pullets at the farm; a Delaware (Penelope), a Barred Rock (Ophelia), and a Americauna (Violet). Now 6 is a good number

I said no more chicks after the rooster incident (they all found a good home working for a farmer), but you know how chickens/chicks go. You can't resist!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good luck with this batch. I don't think the "sexing" of day old chicks is an exact science. Last year when I got my original 6 RIR's the vendor promised they were all pullets. Just 4 weeks later I noticed that one of the birds was not like the others. Several conversations later with that store clerk insisting I was wrong, it was clear I had a cockerel. You just never know. I lucked out Randy is a good rooster, however I recently separated him from the ladies until he gets over his over-active libido phase and the girls grow their feathers back.

 

[chkva]

Good luck with this batch. I don't think the "sexing" of day old chicks is an exact science. Last year when I got my original 6 RIR's the vendor promised they were all pullets. Just 4 weeks later I noticed that one of the birds was not like the others. Several conversations later with that store clerk insisting I was wrong, it was clear I had a cockerel. You just never know. I lucked out Randy is a good rooster, however I recently separated him from the ladies until he gets over his over-active libido phase and the girls grow their feathers back.

This person claimed to be right all the time after I showed them we got 3 roosters out of the 4 chicks I will continue to get my chicks and hens from the farm I've been going to. They get the chicks sexed by a professional by vent sexing. If there's ever a problem, they'll help you re-home them and will refund you or give you another chick.

I understand mistakes happen and that it's not guaranteed. I just watch who I purchase from now. Some claim to know it all and the proof starts showing months later. I'm not the only one who got the short end of the stick with the breeder

 

[LizzzyJo]

A bit off topic, but what do the big hatcheries do to sex that breeders don’t? I would imagine the people are generally the same and using the same techniques. How are the hatchery mistake stories less frequent than farmers? And how can Meyer hatchery say 99% or 100% guaranteed?

 

[chkva]

A bit off topic, but what do the big hatcheries do to sex that breeders don’t? I would imagine the people are generally the same and using the same techniques. How are the hatchery mistake stories less frequent than farmers? And how can Meyer hatchery say 99% or 100% guaranteed?

I think they do vent sexing which is 99+%. Some have certain coloring for their sex, but that doesn't work for some breeds because they all look the same.

I don't know if I'd want to be a breeder and sex chickens with my eyes because I'd be wrong more than I was right with my luck.