I may pick up some week old (or two week old) Welsummer chicks soon. We will be driving quite a bit out of our way and I'm worried about getting them home. Should they be fine for a few hours in a sterilite container with lots of blankets and heat packs? Also...is there any way to sex Welsummers at that age? I am terrified of ending up with all roos from the bunch so if you could give me any suggestions on what to look for I'd really appreciate it.
The Welsummer pullets have a pronounced dark brown V-shaped marking on their heads. Cockerels mark is substantially narrower. Transporting them isn't a problem. As long as the sides are high enough to keep them draft free and the chicks are crowded in the container, they will produce enough heat themselves. I would bother with heat packs. They ship them from hatcheries without heat packs.
I dont rely on the V marks on Welsummer chicks anymore. I had both Welsummer sexes in one faded V and distict V markings. The roosters I have right now HAD strong Vs which I assumed that they were pullets. Nope! Wrong! I have hatched out many Welsummers and most of the time I dont get it right. It was interesting tho! It may be due to the bloodlines which some will tell better than others.