Roster or hen

[blackwoodfamily]

We bought 3 Golden Sex Links Chicks. And one we call Sunspot is a lot bigger then the others. How do we know if we have a roster or a hen?

 

[junebuggena]

That's a Buff Orpington, and he's a boy.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I might not have called out BO as Juenbuggena did, she's pretty good... But agreed that's a cockerel.

They won't be considered roosters or hens until they reach 1 year of age.

Until then, it's pullet and cockerel.

 

[RoosMama]

I agree, those are Buff Orpington's and one is a cockerel. Here is a pic of my Orpington's when they were younger as a reference. You do have a handsome little man there!!

Hope this helps.

 

[blackwoodfamily]

How do we keep him from fertilizing our eggs.?We have 5 hens if we get to the eggs fast enough will this even matter if we have a roster? Or will all the eggs laid have a chance of being fertilized?

 

[junebuggena]

If he's breeding hens, their eggs will be fertile. Fertilized eggs do not spontaneously develop. They must be incubated, and it takes several days of being kept at a near constant 100 degrees for any noticeable development.

 

[drumstick diva]

agree

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How do we keep him from fertilizing our eggs.?We have 5 hens if we get to the eggs fast enough will this even matter if we have a roster? Or will all the eggs laid have a chance of being fertilized?

Send him to freezer camp and your eggs won't be fertile after 10-14 days. 21 days is the far end of ensuring infertile. Or skip the freezer and let him take a long hot bath with some aromatic veggies.

Eating fertilized eggs really is not an issue if you collect daily. Any unknowing person won't know what to look for and there is no taste or texture difference. All my eggs are fertile (presumably) and not a single person has said anything about it. I always request if they find something they think is unusual to let me k now because I can't fix what I don't know. I think it's more the idea of eating a sperm that some don't like. And of course the fear they're gonna crack open a dead chick into their pan. Sperm is not visible to the naked eye, and once it gets fertilized... it's no longer a sperm anyways though I don't know what it's called at that point. Maybe just a fertile egg!

Now I have broody's. And some girls will kick them out to lay in the nest. 1 day I accidentally collected a hatching egg because my pencil markings had been rubbed off. Made for 1 less hatching, but I got it out of my eating eggs because I quickly realized what had happened. Sure makes me think twice now about having broody's in with my layers because I can see now how easy it is to make a mistake.

Another option is to set up a stag pen or find him a new home. Roosters can be great members of the flock, but they are not for everybody. It's a personal choice and sometimes depends on the cockerels' attitude (not roos until 1 year).

And last but not least... no shame in letting him feed someone else's family! There are plenty of people who do it calm, quick, as humane as possible, and know where their food comes from. We don't enjoy doing it... but we also don't support "Big Chicken" as we call it... which is not only kinda inhumane but also disgusting if you've ever seen any industry videos.

I just disclose roosters on site and don't make any claims to fertile or not... but if asked absolutely disclose that it is a possibility.

Good luck either way you go.

IMHO... they won't be as prolific layers, but BO are great birds. No experience with sex links... but I still think Orps are better, especially in the long term.