question about packing peanuts

[keldadog]

Do you ever get pullets as packing peanuts? There were 10 chicks that came with the turkeys I'm raising and I'm wondering if any of them could be pullets. After hanging out with the crew for 3 weeks now I've decided that I'd really like to keep some chickens. Originally I was going to keep some ducks in return for raising this flock, but I'm really taken with chickens and think they'd do nicely in our set up. I've had ducks and loved them, but never chickens before these "surprises." Chickens are so COOL!!!! I can't keep any roosters (neighbors are too close), but could keep about 6 hens with ample room for each of them. This group of ducks/turkeys/and packing peanuts will be heading to their permanent home in about 2 more weeks. If there happened to be any pullets in the group I'm sure my friend would let me keep them. Does it ever happen or are they always roo's?

Also, I've since found the link to the page on how to sex BR babies (that's what I think I have)....but it says that it only works when they're really young....sooooo.......at what age can I tell for sure that there are no pullets in my bunch? If they're all roosters, I'm going to see if anyone in the area has any hens to sell or perhaps order some chicks from mypetchicken.com.

Thanks! And I've really appreciated all of the help I've received here so far. You guys are amazing!!

 

[MSHEN]

It's not likely you have any pullets but any thing is possible. Usually the hatcheries have a 90% or better accuracy on their sexing. I've got 13 BR"s i've got to deal with that are 14 weeks old. They'll be tasty! If this does not appeal to you, rehoming is an option. I don't know how old your chics are, but after a couple of weeks, the males develop more prominent combs that are darker pink colored. Hope this helps!

 

[sunket77]

what is a packing peanut? I have heard this several times on here

 

[danielbrown]

Extra chicks that are sent along for warmth.

 

[saddina]

Peanuts are the extra chicks they put in shipments to keep the chicks you order warm, usually males that are left over after pulling out females for pullet orders. Mine have always been male, we raise them for dinners.