new to this!

[wildfilly]

Hi, all. I'm totally new to chickens. I have a million questions & will probably have millions more. LOL. I received my first chicks on March 28th & now have 56 chickens & 3 turkeys. I stll have no clue as to roos vs hens. I've reAd about hackle & saddle feathers, combs, spurs, ect... Still totally clueless. We have buff orps, rir, columbian wyandottes, americaunas, new hampshires, buff brahamas, cockoo marans, cinnamon queens, black sexlinks,& 1 that looks like a welsummer? So much for a few for eggs for the family! LOL Anyway, i love our flock, & the vast variation in colors! Just lost in the whole sexing thing. Are there definative signs(easy to tell) for male vs female? Besides waiting for eggs to drop? Any help is greatly apperciated.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, wildfilly, and

! Great to have you with us! Wow! You have a load of chickens! Well, obviously the best way to tell the difference is the hens laying and the roosters crowing. At least some should be crowing if you got them in March. Visually, roosters are usually more colorful than the hens of the same breed. They usually have larger and redder combs and larger feet. Also look for pointed saddles and hackle feathers which indicate roosters. Lastly, you can post pics of the birds in question into the link below - someone will give you an idea. Good luck to you!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! redsoxs gave you some good advice, good luck to you.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Happy you joined!

 

[drumstick diva]

I think roosters start crowing at younger age than the pullets start laying. Young cockerels can be pretty sneaky trying to pass as females but, sooner or later the crow gives them away.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. If all else fails, cockerels eventually crow and start terrorizing the hens.