Roo or Hen? Help!

[donrae]

the barred and the red are both cockerels. Your chicks are young enough you can get more babies and they'll all be fine. I've mixed up to 5 weeks age difference in a brooder and been fine, you just need to be sure you have enough space.

If you're new to chickens, I'd advise to get rid of both roosters and stick with hens. Roosters aren't pets, and you seem to want more pets than livestock. Yes, they're sweet and affectionate now, but when the hormones hit they'll be used to being treated as pets and decide you're lower on the pole than they are and try to act dominate to you. Hens make much better pets.

 

[GreenEggsNSpam]

Congratulations on your chicks, and sorry of the loss of your one. I too have a Barred Rock, a Rhode Island Red and a Buff Orpington, among others. Based on the growth of my chicks, I'm guessing your chicks are about 3 weeks (around 21 days) in your pictures, or a little more.

Here are two of my girls at 4 weeks (29-30 days old when this was taken). Just like yours, one is a Rhode Island Red and a Barred Rock. As you can see, my Barred Rocks feather pattern is indeed darker than that of your Barred Rock, and her comb much smaller. There is no doubt she is a pullet and yours is a little rooster. The Rhode Island Red pictured with her shares the same sized comb as my Barred Rock, which I believe is significantly smaller than that of your Rhode Island Red. I believe your Red is a little rooster as well. Now my Buff Orpington (not pictured) is a rooster! I was supposed to receive all pullets, but mistakes happen. If you can only keep one of your roos, I'd suggest considering the Barred Rock as a keeper. They generally have better temperaments than Rhode Island Red roosters.



Ember ('Emmie') the Rhode Island Red and Dottie, the Barred Rock.

 

[GreenEggsNSpam]

What are the thoughts on keeping both roos? Would it be bad for my one lonely hen? Can I get more chickens and add them in or is going to be risking the new chicks bc of pecking order?

If you kept both roosters, you would absolutely have to get more hens! And not just one or two! But a half dozen or more. Less than that and the roosters will fight vigorously, potentially hurting themselves. And they will over breed the poor hens. So it's either get rid of one or both, I'm afraid, unless you want several more hens. In fact, even if you only keep one, you should get three more hens at least. One hen for a rooster is not enough.

I really would suggest considering keeping the Barred Rock rooster and giving up the Rhode Island Red. Barred Rocks have very good temperaments, and the roosters generally have a more even head than most breeds of roos. Rhode Island Reds, on the other hand, have quite a reputation for mean streaks once they mature.

Of course, there are always exceptions on both sides. So you never know just how they'll be until they mature. But my bet would be the Barred Rock will be the nicer one.

 

[ChknObssd]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely be keeping my Barred Rock Roo. I am planning on getting at least two more hens. I found some chicks in my area that are about 4-5 weeks old and they happen to be Easter Eggers so I am going to go that route.

Thank you GreenEggsNSpam--I have been trying to figure out about how old my chicks were and was trying desperately to compare them to diff images online and in my hatching chicks book, but wasnt exactly sure. Glad to know now that they are at 3 wks! Thank you also for posting your hens pics so I could see a comparison. Now I just need to find out where to take my RIR roo so it can have a good home.

 

[ChknObssd]

GreenEggsNSpam, can you post a photo of your Buff?

My RIR and Barred keep going at it "fighting". However, the Buff will get into it every once in a while with these two too. Is this normal pecking order behavior or is my Buff a roo too?

 

[GreenEggsNSpam]

GreenEggsNSpam, can you post a photo of your Buff?

My RIR and Barred keep going at it "fighting". However, the Buff will get into it every once in a while with these two too. Is this normal pecking order behavior or is my Buff a roo too?

It is not unusual for hens to get into the chest-bumping feather-ruffling of the pecking order game. My hens do, too! They all bump up against each other and flap their wings! At this point, I think it's almost more play and sizing each other up. And yes, figuring out the pecking order. Though that comes later, too, as they mature. So that behavior alone is not enough to determine sex. Roosters will usually get rougher than hens when they mature, though. And roosters (unlike hens) grow nasty sharp spurs on their legs to fight with. But you won't see these for a while as they take some time to grow. Just another reason to avoid having a mean rooster, because a mean rooster WILL use them on a person, too!

But to ease your mind, here are some pictures of my boy at 29-30 days of age, same as my pullets are in the previous pictures. Notice the size of his comb and even the start of his wattles at this early age. I think he even looks like a little guy! Not as lady like as my pullets.


And here he is with my Barred Rock pullet.

 

[weasel killer]

I would keep one roo.There in nothing like listening to a roo learn to crow.I have two separated in different cages.well one lost one two days ago to a opossum he was trying to protect his hens.

 

[ChknObssd]

Thanks GreenEggsNSpam!! I really appreciate it!! It def puts my mind at ease more!! I was really starting to worry that I somehow got all Roos!!

and yess Weasel Killer, I plan to keep a Roo. I love the crowing

 

[ChknObssd]

So Im thinking my RIR might still be a hen afterall. She/he doesnt seem to have developed anymore in the comb area nor is the presence of waddles starting to show like the changes in my Barred Rock Roo. Ill try to get some recent pics.

 

[ChknObssd]

Okay- so here is my RIR (hes 4-5 wks I believe)

I also aquired this little beauty under the assumption that she was in fact a She. (Was told she is a d'uccle) However, after scouring the internet and trying to determine whether a hen in fact has hackles Im at a loss. She is around 2 months+ Here she is:

are these hackles?:

Any help would be greatly appreciated!