Rooster or Hen?

[TacticalRedneck]

This is my first time with chickens and I’m trying to figure out what I have for roosters and hens. I got them in early September. I believe because of the size of the combs that 1, 2 and 7 are my only hens. Am I right or way off? Thanks for the help. No one is laying either.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I can't really see #3, but I tend to agree with your assessment. They all look like sexlinks (barred hen crossed with solid color rooster produces barred roosters and solid colored hens.)

If you got them at a feed store where you can pick your own, and you see a sign that says "straight-run sex-links" try and see if you can convince the employee to give you only the chicks without spots on their heads (head-spots = barring)

 

[Table4Six]

You're correct, only numbers 1,2, and 7 are hens. The rest are cockerels.

 

[TacticalRedneck]

Thanks for the feedback. My apologies for the noob question... but what does barring mean? An yes I did get these at my local TSC. The hens are supposed to be Isa Browns and the rest (which could have been either rooster or hen ) are Rainbow Rangers. Which I’m not even sure what those are. My research seems to conclude they are “mutts”. Thanks

 

[junebuggena]

3, 4, 5, and 6 are Rainbow/Pioneer/Dixie cockerels. 1 and 2 look like Rainbow/Pioneer/Dixie pullets. And 7 looks like a red sexlink pullet.

 

[TacticalRedneck]

You're correct, only numbers 1,2, and 7 are hens. The rest are cockerels.

Thanks. At what point will all these cockerels become a problem?

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

If you got them in September, then I would guess in about a month or so... If you don't have any other hens, then I hope you either like soup or have room for a bachelor coop!

 

[sourland]

3, 4, 5, and 6 are Rainbow/Pioneer/Dixie cockerels. 1 and 2 look like Rainbow/Pioneer/Dixie pullets. And 7 looks like a red sexlink pullet.

I agree. I would remove the cockerels as soon as possible if they were mine. Do so before the trouble starts.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thanks for the feedback. My apologies for the noob question... but what does barring mean?

Barring is a pattern in chickens that erases pigment in stripes (see the barred rock below)

Hens can only carry one copy, and roosters can carry two. The gene for it is dominant, and roosters who carry a double copy are a lot paler than the hens. (See same breed rooster below)

Since a hen carries one copy of the barring gene on one of her sex chromosomes (two of that chromosome=male, one=female) she passes the barring gene onto her sons, who must, necessarily, inherit that chromosome from both parents.

Pullets will inherit the other sex-chromosome, which does not contain barring, and also determines their sex as pullets.

And that is the origin of sex-links. It does not work on a second generation cross.

 

[Table4Six]

Thanks. At what point will all these cockerels become a problem?

Like @NikAndHerChicks said probably in about a month or so, but personally I think it's quite cruel to kill the roosters and eat them just because you have too many. It's killing an animal whose barely begun life. My suggestions are:

1. getting more hens
2. having a separate coop for the boys
3. or you find some good new homes for the excess roos