Rooster or Just a Mean Girl?

[EmmaRainboe]

When I got the chicks, they used a nail to sex them. Have you ever heard of that?

Nope, can you explain?

 

[ThatTeowonna]

Nope, can you explain?

I’ll try to recall what they said. They said every living thing has a natural ph force or something. So he held the large steel nail attached to a string above the chick’s head if it goes in a circle, it’s a male. If it swings back and forth, it’s female. Or vice versa. But that’s the gist of it.

 

[LaFleche]

I’ll try to recall what they said. They said every living thing has a natural ph force or something. So he held the large steel nail attached to a string above the chick’s head if it goes in a circle, it’s a male. If it swings back and forth, it’s female. Or vice versa. But that’s the gist of it.

That would be just wishful thinking with an accuracy by chance of 50%, just the same as if you would not do anything "magical" to determine the sex.

The nail hanging by a string will be moving one way or the other driven by the movement of the person holding it.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

That would be just wishful thinking with an accuracy by chance of 50%, just the same as if you would not do anything "magical" to determine the sex.

The nail hanging by a string will be moving one way or the other driven by the movement of the person holding it.

Since I got a roo, that definitely seems to e the case.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I’ll try to recall what they said. They said every living thing has a natural ph force or something. So he held the large steel nail attached to a string above the chick’s head if it goes in a circle, it’s a male. If it swings back and forth, it’s female. Or vice versa. But that’s the gist of it.

Haha.
Those loony bins.
Don’t fall for stupid, stupid stuff like that.
Do a little research, and you’ll know the difference between an adult rooster and a hen, and whether you’re getting scammed or not.
The only way to sex chicks is color sexing (Sexlinks)
and vent sexing.

 

[Painted Calls]

I completely understand. Probably won't cull him, though. I thought about selling him. Just not sure... I'll keep him around for a few days until I decide. Thanks for the perspective.

I contacted the farm where I purchased him. They have 2 remaining. Do you think it is too much to expect a discount on a new pullet?

I would expect a free pullet. You paid for a pullet, correct? That would be quite a price difference.

The nail explains a lot. My goodness. He is without a doubt, 100% cockerel.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I’ll try to recall what they said. They said every living thing has a natural ph force or something. So he held the large steel nail attached to a string above the chick’s head if it goes in a circle, it’s a male. If it swings back and forth, it’s female. Or vice versa. But that’s the gist of it.

Sounds like an old wives tale. Like that thing where if you hang a chick from the neck and it's legs are straight it's a boy and if it pulls it's legs up it's a girl.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The only way to sex chicks is color sexing (Sexlinks)
and vent sexing.

And feather growth/length sexing, but that can only be done on certain breeds that have that trait bred into them.

I do my own "sexing" when choosing from vent sexed chicks at a feed store - as vent sexing still yields roughly 10% chance of males - by looking for certain behaviors or traits. Thicker legs, upright stance, or more curious/friendly, or slower feather growth if they're older than a couple of weeks = higher likelihood of being a boy versus others in the bin.

 

[ThatTeowonna]

I think that is the hard part... no chocolate eggs.
Thoughts:
#1 buy chocolate eggs from the grocery store around easter time, then you can actually eat the entire eggs plus it is actually chocolate!!
#2 paint some eggs a chocolate color
#3 possibly think of hatching eggs in the future to see what a mixed breed would lay... be prepared to sell the chickens/roos
#4 maybe try to get more black copper marans next year if you don't have a limit on how many chickens you can have

I think you will be happy to know that my little black rooster and I are getting along much better. I had to start looking at him as a rooster and how he can impact my flock rather than the destroyer of my chocolate eggs dreams. He’s calming down more and hasn’t pecked me recently. He’s still a little aggressive to the new chicks, but overall I think everyone is settling in with each other. Things are much better for us all and I think I will keep him. Thanks for the encouragement. Happy Thanksgiving

 

[CluckerFamily]

I think you will be happy to know that my little black rooster and I are getting along much better. I had to start looking at him as a rooster and how he can impact my flock rather than the destroyer of my chocolate eggs dreams. He’s calming down more and hasn’t pecked me recently. He’s still a little aggressive to the new chicks, but overall I think everyone is settling in with each other. Things are much better for us all and I think I will keep him. Thanks for the encouragement. Happy Thanksgiving

Oh I am so glad to hear that!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!