It looks like I have five roosters out of 25 chicks. Assuming that el mystery chick was in fact a boy (and that's a reasonable guess) that leaves four. 90% accuracy should only give me 2.5 (but I'd rather round up than get half a chick). If I believed in karma I'd say in my past life I must have been driving a cadillac fueled by kittens and covered in genuine orphan skin seats, because I shouldn't have this many boys. Now, what to do with them is not a problem. I have a set of Cornish X I'm getting ready to send to camp, and there's always room on that bus for a few more, and I ordered more chickens than I intend to keep, so I was always planning on getting rid of some. What is annoying is dealing with them. Six weeks old and three of them are already attempting to serenade me awake each morning. The thought that a few of my birds are more single purpose than dual purpose doesn't bother me. Losing sleep to the arrogant little feather beasts does. Part of me says I should complain. Part of me says there's nothing to be done about it. Anyone complained to a hatchery about sexing errors before? What would they do about it anyway? I certainly don't want five more (unless they are cornish x....yum!). Is this a "Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the peeps you have while you pick rooster meat out of your teeth" situation, or something that happens all the time?
I'd call and ask if they could credit you for a later order. Unless you don't plan on ordering again. I think they should at least be informed though, even if you're not looking for reimbursement.
No advice, but you are my kind of poster - nearly spit diet coke all over the keyboard a couple of times reading your what you wrote
It depends on the hatchery what they do. I called to let my pet chicken know that I had two rooster out of 6 sexed chickens and I didn't complain exactly I didn't ask for anything either I just told them because i didn't know if they liked to track the mistakes so they know there accuracy. They actually refunded me the price of the two cockerels....not like it was much money but hey customer service right. I wasn't looking for anything so I was happy that they just gave me the credit. Maybe if you called then and very nicely let them know of there error they will possibly refund or offer to send more in you wanted...couldn't hurt.
I would let the hatchery know even if you don't care about being reimbursed. I normally buy my chicks at local feed stores. I know that these usually come from hatcheries. I have found the sexing estimate of 90% to be pretty accurate in the past. This year I plan to get around 20 chicks. 4 will be sex links and the others will be a mixture of large fowl. I am expecting 2 - 3 roosters. I am hoping for none but am realistic. I don't keep the roosters.
I bought a POL hen which turned out to be a cockerel; the breeder gave me an exchange. If I had bought at chick stage, I wouldn't "complain", but I would "inform". Logic says to me that, as you are going to utilise them come-what-may, what would be your point in highlighting it? What would it achieve?
I know of a TSC store where you could have gotten 100% roosters from a bin of sex link pullets! I pointed out to them the error and they seemed to agree, but they still sold them as pullets. I think they will have some unhappy customers in a couple months. Jerry
