Please tell me I don't have to send anyone to freezer camp...(5 week old gender help)

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Barred rocks do have traits that make it easier to sex at hatch, but I'm not sure if the hatcheries go off those or simply vent sex. Do you happen to have a picture of the top of it's head when you got it? The size and shape of the head spot help determine male and female on pure bred barred rocks. Then again, a black sex link male would look identical to a pure barred rock hen at that stage.

I bet they were looking for a abrred rock pullet and grabbed a black sex link cockerel instead

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

Despite proof, definitely wait until they crow, because you never know. We had a hen with spurs & looked like a rooster but wasn't. Doesn't hurt to wait, especially when they're that young. Just wait and hope for the best.

 

[Sarahelca]

I ordered a Barred Rock. Whether I got that or not, no idea. I thought I did I don't have an individual picture but this was when they were all two days old.


Just wanted to edit that I would not be sending anyone to freezer camp until they are fully grown and I'm positive they are a rooster. I really like them all but I seriously can't have a rooster here.

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

Ok great but even so, try to rehome on byc or craigslist first. Is a chickens life less important than chicken soup? Im sure since you raised it you would feel better getting it a home then eating it for dinner

 

[donrae]

Ok great but even so, try to rehome on byc or craigslist first. Is a chickens life less important than chicken soup? Im sure since you raised it you would feel better getting it a home then eating it for dinner

Eating unwanted or unkeepable roosters is perfectly acceptable to a lot of us on this board.

I literally can't give my cockerels away on CL, etc. And if I could give them away, why on earth should I let someone else eat all my investment? That bird ate my feed for months, used my electricity, etc. If anyone's eating them, it's gonna be me. I'm not giving all that away.

Sarah--that's a nice shot of the chick, but I just can't say for sure, sorry. Just keep us posted. I think the chick could be a barred rock. I agree the barring looks off, but I have some hatchery birds with very poor barring. I don't care, I'm not breeding show quality barred rocks, and they lay large brown eggs quite well for me. That's what I want, so I'm happy.

 

[annageckos]

That first one looks like it could be a black sex link, making it a male. It doesn't look like a barred rock to me.

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

Ya I would say the same thing, not a barred rock to me.

 

[Sarahelca]

Well, hopefully it's a she and just a jacked up barred rock. If not, I'm placing an angry phone call to MyPetChicken.

And sorry Sams Chickens, but I plan on eating what I can't keep. I figure since I eat chicken anyway, at least I know these chickens were well taken care of. While I am starting with just four right now, I have every intention of moving to a place with some land and keeping farm animals. I figure this is a really good way to find out if pigs and cows for meat are a possibility too.

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

If you call them they'll hook you up with a replacement or refund. I wouldn't get angry though, mistakes happen. I'm good friends with Traci, the owner of mypetchicken, and they try their best to make everything perfect for customers. I'm sure they will compensate somehow whether its a new chicken or refund.