Hi All,
So I started this spring with 12 birds for a meat project. 4 of which went to freezer camp as cornish game hens, 4 more to go a week from Wednesday, leaving my 4 comparison birds- 2 BR and 2 RIR, which will be scheduled for freezer camp when they're big enough.
I never intended on keeping the 4 "colored" birds for anything other than meat, but I am starting to think that one of the RIRs may be a pullet! Compared to her brother at 6.5 weeks, her comb is yellow at the top and smaller. The tails on the 2 are starting to look different. Any thoughts on when I can definitively tell them apart, besides crowing and laying
. I was totally convinced up to this week that they were both roosters.
Has anyone ever successfully kept a single hen? I am not sure if getting her a friend is an option at this point, but its something I have considered- and opens up a whole new thread on introducing 2 different aged birds
. My plan would only be to keep her until the winter and when she stops/slows laying, send her to the freezer as well.
I just feel bad keeping her by herself, and if its too stressful on them to lay, then that defeats the purpose.
So I started this spring with 12 birds for a meat project. 4 of which went to freezer camp as cornish game hens, 4 more to go a week from Wednesday, leaving my 4 comparison birds- 2 BR and 2 RIR, which will be scheduled for freezer camp when they're big enough.
I never intended on keeping the 4 "colored" birds for anything other than meat, but I am starting to think that one of the RIRs may be a pullet! Compared to her brother at 6.5 weeks, her comb is yellow at the top and smaller. The tails on the 2 are starting to look different. Any thoughts on when I can definitively tell them apart, besides crowing and laying

Has anyone ever successfully kept a single hen? I am not sure if getting her a friend is an option at this point, but its something I have considered- and opens up a whole new thread on introducing 2 different aged birds

I just feel bad keeping her by herself, and if its too stressful on them to lay, then that defeats the purpose.