Rooster or hen? I think i know......

[labloverx5]

Good morning!
I have had some concerns over the sex of this beautiful bird but I think I got my answer this morning with the strange sound that was coming form it....Any thoughts??? I was hoping it was an early egg laying song.....This was taken a couple of weeks ago...it is 17 weeks old....




Hope you can see it...

 

[familyfarm1]

Sorry, that's a cockerel.

 

[labloverx5]

That's what I was afraid of. Such a beautiful bird...I guess I will have to find him a good home.
Sooo sad.....Thanks for the help......

 

[labloverx5]

So now that we know it's a cockerel, how long do I have before I need to get him away from the girls?

 

[Toddrick]

You don't have to worry about the girls. The worst that will happen is their back feathers will get messy. If you want the girls to look prestine, then just remove him by the time you see him jumping on their backs.

 

[labloverx5]

OK. Thank you! We are just not set up to have more chicks at this time. Still bumming about my chicken....

 

[Cowgirl71]

Definitely a cockerel, sorry.

 [COLOR=4B0082]OK. Thank you! We are just not set up to have more chicks at this time.  Still bumming about my chicken....[/COLOR]

Having him in with the girls won't necessarily give you chicks. You'll only get chicks if you or a hen incubates the eggs. If you don't incubate the eggs, and don't let any broody hens set on the eggs either, you won't get chicks. The eggs will be fertile, but still perfectly fine for eating if you refridgerate them promptly (ideally daily). They'll only turn "ucky" if they are left for 3 days or more at 80+ degrees, or sat on by a hen for a day or two.

 

[labloverx5]

Oh, Thank You. Still learning as you can tell. We definitely want to keep the eggs for eating.
If I had more time and space I would try having them hatch some but right now that doesn't work.

 

[donrae]

Just need to chime in with kudos for realizing you're not set up for chicks now. Too often we see chick fever catch a person, they get an Oops rooster and hatch a bunch of chicks, then are on here posting about overcrowding issues and what to do with the extra cockerels. Nice to see responsible ownership

 

[labloverx5]

Yes, we already have 6 chicks that are about a year and a half and the new 12 ( or should I say 11) chicks. That is enough for now. We have two beautiful coops and they are quite comfortable.