Rooster or hen? what breed?

[JanMerc7781]

Hello,
We retired from the military and I couldn’t wait to get chickens, but a cancer disgnoses last year left me with an empty coop as we didn’t want to add to our load of stress. This spring, my husband wanting to surprise me brought home four hens from a pullet at our local feed store. 2 Isa Browns and 2 black sex links…so we thought. The black sex links had no white dot when we got them at four days old. They are now 16 weeks old and showing all the characteristics and crowing of roosters. Our neighbor says it’s rare, but possible for hierarchy hens to display as roosters with crowing and behavior like that of a rooster .
I’m lost at what to do and torn to rehome. Do we have one roo, 2 roos, or just hens wanting to be roosters in our flock? If roosters, should we separate in their own coops, or can we keep them together? How many hens per rooster should we have? Are these black sex links or another breed?
Photos included of the two feed store mixups we love so much; Wednesday and Estelle( the pasty butt runt of the flock)

 

[fluffycrow]

They are in fact cockerels. They don't look like Black Sex Links to me, but not sure what they could be. If you only have two females (the ISA browns), then keeping both boys with them will not work out. You could either:

a) rehome one, keep the other one and see if that works out

b) separate both and keep them in a bachelor coop and see if that works out, or if they start fighting

or c) rehome both and keep the pullets

this all depends on your keeping preferences, and how much you can handle.

There is no perfect ratio between males and females, IME. Two females to one male has worked for me, as has 10 females to one male

 

[JedJackson]

They are both males, and they are mixed breeds or some type of hatchery hybrid.

You can try keeping them together and see how it goes. Sometimes they get along, but often they don't. If they don't, it's easiest to rehome one of them, but if you have the resources, you can set up a separate coop for one of them.

Large roosters can handle 10 or more hens, but 2 or 3 each is feasible. You have to watch for signs of overmating, which shows in the hens' backs. If they start losing feathers there, you can order aprons online to protect their backs. A lot depends on the individual rooster's temperament.

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC! They do look like boys. I agree with the above posts. I have no idea what breed(s) they are.
If you are not vegetarian, maybe consider making a chicken dinner or 2? Or put one or both on Craigslist, to give away....

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Both are males, possibly mixed breed. How one as a single comb and other a rose.

 

[JanMerc7781]

Thank you all so much for your help. As of now, we are attempting to rehome one or both of them.