Roo or Pullet?

[aumaddy90]

Hi, I have a mixed little flock developing, I’m not even going to try sexing the Silkies but concerned about my splash astralorp and silver laced Wyandotte. They’re about 9 weeks old roughly.

 

[gtaus]

Welcome to the BYC forums

If you are asking if your bird(s) are hens or roos, you will need to upload some nice pictures.

 

[cavemanrich]

If this was me,,,, then I would have an answer for you.

All joking aside,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[aumaddy90]

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Welcome to BYC!

I am thinking that the wyandotte is a pullet and the splash austrolope is a cockerel due to his comb already being a pinkish color and big.

 

[Gray Farms]

Australorp is a cockerel with out a doubt. I'm on the fence leaning towards cockerel with the Wyandotte.

 

[Wezdin]

Australorp is a cockerel with out a doubt. I'm on the fence leaning towards cockerel with the Wyandotte.

X2, not a lot of experience with 'dottes but that feather color ratio is also making me think cockerel.

 

[gtaus]

If your goal, or needs, is for pullets only, then I might suggest just ordering the sex-linked chicks where the male and female are very easy to tell by color and/or pattern. When I ordered my mixed flock of 10 pullets, I was expecting to get a roo or two in the mix by chance. I also ordered some sex-linked breeds to make sure I had some egg layers. Fortunately, the hatchery picked all 10 pullets for me, as ordered, and I was very happy.

I know some people are not allowed to have roos in town, so that makes it difficult when you get a roo in the mix. My sex-link ISA Brown is a real sweetheart, my most people friendly pullet by far. She is also my first egg layer, and my best egg layer. If you want a guarantee that your chicks are pullets only, consider the sex-link breeds.

 

[aumaddy90]

We bought chicks from the market for the kids, we knew there was a high chance of roo’s. Unfortunately we are in town so can’t keep them but the breeders have told us they would take the roo’s back but I also am in touch with a re homing service or they can go out to my friend’s property. Once we know what’s what we will increase our flock with confirmed pulets, the chick raising was a good experience for the kids though.

 

[gtaus]

Once we know what’s what we will increase our flock with confirmed pulets, the chick raising was a good experience for the kids though.

As the chicks get older, it will be much easier to see if you have a roo or pullet. The experience of raising chicks is very valuable, even if you end up having to rehome any roos. I like your attitude to this possibility and hope your are able to share that with your children. It's all part of managing small animals.