Not Sure If You've Got A Pullet Or Cockerel? Click Here! Thread 2

[mlploeger]

I don't even bother finding homes for cockerels most of the time. After all the time and feed that I invest in incubating and brooding, I'd rather feed my family with them rather than have go to feed someone else. 
Most of the time, it can be difficult to even give them way.

Thank you for responding and helping us out Junebug! Yeah so that's what I was wondering, and you make a really great point. So my question is... how old for meat to be ready? Because right when the crowing starts is when he'll have to go as we live in suburbs and have an HOA.

 

[junebuggena]

Thank you for responding and helping us out Junebug! Yeah so that's what I was wondering, and you make a really great point. So my question is... how old for meat to be ready? Because right when the crowing starts is when he'll have to go as we live in suburbs and have an HOA.

Most of mine are ready sometime between 12 and 16 weeks. They are still pretty tender, and at that point, you're not going to get a whole lot more meat out of them compared to the amount of feed they consume. By 16 weeks old, they are eating twice as much feed as pullets of the same age. It's crazy how much they eat. Plus, that's right at about the age that they start to become problematic.

 

[harveyhorses]

My 2 Americaunas. The first 3 shots are one, the second one are the last 2 shots.

 

[junebuggena]

My 2 Americaunas. The first 3 shots are one, the second one are the last 2 shots.

Those are Easter Eggers, and they are too young to even try to guess at. Try again in another 3 weeks.

 

[harveyhorses]

2 Black Austolorps top three pics is one chic, the last two the other. it is amazing how different they look when they stretch up.

 

[harveyhorses]

I thought so, but was told they were 3-4 weeks. Thanks. The first one chased the cat off the bed. boy is she ticked off.

 

[junebuggena]

I thought so, but was told they were 3-4 weeks. Thanks. The first one chased the cat off the bed. boy is she ticked off.

They are 3 to 4 weeks, but it's still too young. Unless a chick is very obviously male, with a huge red comb, most of the time chicks need to be at least 6 to 8 weeks to show signs of gender.

 

[mlploeger]

Most of mine are ready sometime between 12 and 16 weeks. They are still pretty tender, and at that point, you're not going to get a whole lot more meat out of them compared to the amount of feed they consume. By 16 weeks old, they are eating twice as much feed as pullets of the same age. It's crazy how much they eat. Plus, that's right at about the age that they start to become problematic.

Thank you SO much !

 

[harveyhorses]

They are 3 to 4 weeks, but it's still too young. Unless a chick is very obviously male, with a huge red comb, most of the time chicks need to be at least 6 to 8 weeks to show signs of gender.

Thanks, I asked the woman if she had any colored egg layers and she kept calling them Americaunas, but they look like my EE I had. They were really overcrowded and I just could not put them back down. She could have told me they were dragons and I would have taken them.
They are not plucking their feathers anymore and have settled down really well.

 

[purplechicken7]

I ordered 15 pullets from Cackle (heavy assorted pullet special) and I am pretty sure I have at least 5 cockerels. I informed the Hatchery and they said it was too soon to tell. The chicks were 4-5 weeks old when these pics were taken. I'm not sure of breeds but I know that some have got to be RIR and maybe some Buff Orps.