Pull or roo Plus intro

[Countrydreamin]

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View attachment 1638386 I have the same dream as you!!

Don't worry about gender too much right now. I can't zoom in on your pics very well (next time upload and click "full image") but they're different breeds so their development will likely also be different. Hatchery chicks aren't usually bred to a perfect standard, so often there's many variables like comb type and leg coloring. All my birds are hatchery quality... they still make great pets!

I also have a (blue) wyandotte and was almost certain she was a boy as her comb and wattles were developing so much faster than the others. You really won't be able to get a good assessment until around 14 weeks. For your SLW, the start of whitish saddle feathers and black iridescent tail feathers will be a telltale sign of a cockerel.

Here's a pic of mine at 4 wks and 10 wks. She's a big fluffy pullet for sure now!
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Thanks for the tip, testing it now

 

[Countrydreamin]

Welcome to BYC and to the world of chicken keeping! Glad to have you here!

thankyou. Show me your chickens. I quite enjoy seeing all the diff varieties everyone has

 

[Countrydreamin]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens, Susie! We are glad you joined the flock! BYC is a helpful site providing all of the information you need to know about poultry. There is always space for members on the BYC roost!
Although I hate to say it, both of your juveniles look like cockerels. Feather growth, comb size and those thick legs pretty much indicates it at such an early age. Maybe if fighting starts to occur, You could keep a cockerel in each separate pen and introduce some Barred Rock females and Wyandottes females with each cockerel, that way you could start a breeding flock. Probably a silly suggestion.

Hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!

l have to give away the cockerels back to the farm if that’s the case, I’m in inner City surburbs and my neighbours would hate me if I owned roosters haha. Probably why I’m keen to know gender early. I want to get some more chicks before summer ends.

 

[ronott1]

If the one starts to crow, look for a place to re home him. Here we have rooster rescue places

 

[feathermaid]

Thanks for the tip, testing it now

Awesome giant picture with even better zoom! It appears to be a single comb, but that happens sometimes with inferior breeding stock, not a big deal. That's why breeding to standard is so difficult/time-consuming and SOP (standard of perfection) chicks are so expensive. And Australia may have different standards anyway.

I wish I got more than two chicks. I just want two - three females and that’s it as my yard doesn’t allow for a big pen ( however they will free range all day every day). Any advice in getting new chicks to add to the flock?

Six weeks is a tough age to add more babies if they're not about the same age. You're considering 12 week olds? I'm sure people have done it. But very soon those hormones will start kicking in and juveniles are very boisterous and inconsiderate... your youngsters might be at risk. If the farm is willing, is it possible to switch out your current chicks with a new batch? Such a tough call I know, you're probably already attached.

Well you could read up on integration and see what you think for yourself. Mixing adolescents is a bit different than mixing adults, or adding chicks to adults (which is what I prefer). But everyone has probably done every combination so it might be worth a shot!
See But Don’t Touch
The Essential Quarantine
Integrating at 4 weeks old
It would be a bummer if both turn out to be cockerels and you didn't have any pullets to keep. But I don't know if you should rule out them still being pullets... my girls had puffy chests too (full crops)

and started acting all cockerelly later on (just being kids), so you never really know til they crow... or lay eggs!

I started with 3 chicks because I also thought I would never be able to fit more than that as my first coop was really tiny. But I found an unused spot in my yard that works great and built a custom coop to fit that space!

I built this gate to contain them to the side yard and my custom coop has 2 runs for easy separation when necessary.
I added 3 more babies last spring (but eventually lost 2 of my original 3) and still plan on adding more again (but no roosters!). You might discover a way to get creative later on too!

Here's a few more pics... just because!

 

[Countrydreamin]

Awesome giant picture with even better zoom! It appears to be a single comb, but that happens sometimes with inferior breeding stock, not a big deal. That's why breeding to standard is so difficult/time-consuming and SOP (standard of perfection) chicks are so expensive. And Australia may have different standards anyway.


Six weeks is a tough age to add more babies if they're not about the same age. You're considering 12 week olds? I'm sure people have done it. But very soon those hormones will start kicking in and juveniles are very boisterous and inconsiderate... your youngsters might be at risk. If the farm is willing, is it possible to switch out your current chicks with a new batch? Such a tough call I know, you're probably already attached.

Well you could read up on integration and see what you think for yourself. Mixing adolescents is a bit different than mixing adults, or adding chicks to adults (which is what I prefer). But everyone has probably done every combination so it might be worth a shot!
See But Don’t Touch
The Essential Quarantine
Integrating at 4 weeks old
It would be a bummer if both turn out to be cockerels and you didn't have any pullets to keep. But I don't know if you should rule out them still being pullets... my girls had puffy chests too (full crops)
View attachment 1639482
and started acting all cockerelly later on (just being kids), so you never really know til they crow... or lay eggs!

I started with 3 chicks because I also thought I would never be able to fit more than that as my first coop was really tiny. But I found an unused spot in my yard that works great and built a custom coop to fit that space!
View attachment 1639443
I built this gate to contain them to the side yard and my custom coop has 2 runs for easy separation when necessary.
I added 3 more babies last spring (but eventually lost 2 of my original 3) and still plan on adding more again (but no roosters!). You might discover a way to get creative later on too!

Here's a few more pics... just because!
View attachment 1639494 View attachment 1639495 View attachment 1639493

Ohhh wow. I’m so jealous of ur coop, that’s amazing. I have such a crappy coop but it’s a temporary one for now I guess. Yeh I’ve decided to go and grab two more 6 week old pullets. Ones the owner has claimed they think it’s a pullet garauntee. Then if my other two are roosters I have my two girls. Or if they happen to all be pullets I’ll give away two to my Nonna, she has a massive coop.

Thanks for all ur info. Appreciate the time u have taken with that. Ur pics are just gorgeous. I looooove ur chooks. Is that ur daughter with them? I hope my daughter gets that friendly with them. She is scared to touch them at the moment but like to throw food.

 

[feathermaid]

Your plan to get a couple more 6 week olds sounds great. Don't worry about your coop, I think everyone should start with a crappy one... that's how you learn what works and what doesn't! You can always upgrade later.

Thanks! Yes, she's my daughter. We first got little chicks when she was 4 yrs old, now she's almost 8 already, I can't believe it. She used to spend a lot more time with the chickens and carry them around, but doesn't seem to have much interest anymore. All the chickens seem to be my own personal little homesteading project, but the family sure likes to eat their eggs.

 

[Countrydreamin]

Your plan to get a couple more 6 week olds sounds great. Don't worry about your coop, I think everyone should start with a crappy one... that's how you learn what works and what doesn't! You can always upgrade later.

Thanks! Yes, she's my daughter. We first got little chicks when she was 4 yrs old, now she's almost 8 already, I can't believe it. She used to spend a lot more time with the chickens and carry them around, but doesn't seem to have much interest anymore. All the chickens seem to be my own personal little homesteading project, but the family sure likes to eat their eggs.

Wow yep time flies. We lost interest in our chickens growing up too and wanted a dog but it still instilled my love for chooks and all ultimately a farm like lifestyle.
My dad and hubby are building the coop now happy days

 

[NonnasBabies]

Welcome!

 

[Countrydreamin]

Welcome!

Italian like me ? Nonna