So Just How Unreliable is Chick-Sexing?

[SkyWarrior]

I've heard that chick sexing is about 90% reliable, and yet, with the number of apparent roos I've picked up, I've begun to wonder if I should just pick dual purpose birds as straight runs and cull the roos out when they're big enough for eating.

After all, if I'm getting that many roos, I should just pay straight run prices and be done with it.

I've been getting my birds from a feed store who buys their birds from a hatchery I can buy online. If I'm paying for pullets, I want pullets. Otherwise, I'd take my chance with straight runs and buy a whole bunch more.

 

[dutchhollow]

The problem with the feed stores, is people pick up chicks out of the straight run bin to hold and drop them back in the pullet bin. If you want the 90 percent, buy right from the hatchery, or if you know the workers at the feed store, ask them when they come in and if you can get there that morning to pick yours.

 

[americana-chick]

So far this has only happened to me once, but the very sad thing is that the chick was in a SEXLINK bin and ended up being a rooster

I blame me more than anything i really should have paid closer attention.

 

[3goodeggs]

Ideal said expect one rooster for every 10 chickens. I ordered from them directly. Out of 25 chickens (one died-broke it's neck flying) I got 24 hens. I would say they do a pretty good job.

Feed stores might not be the best place to get the girls. I worried more about people not practicing healthy bio security and diseases moving from their farms to the box of chicks. My child insists we clean our shoes even we we just go to get feed.

 

[newchicksnducks]

I agree with the TSC problem. Even if they were 100% shipped correctly, once they are in the open and people are picking up, the ratio goes down dramatically. I purchased 15 pullets from Meyers, and every one of them turned out to be nice hens Guess I beat the 90%!

 

[klf73]

I have never ordered chicks but just had a lone chick hatch almost 2 weeks ago. Went to the feed store and bought 2 chicks(for company) out of the pullet bin(well, they only order pullets, so 1 bin). 1 acts like a roo and the other is getting a pink comb at 2 weeks

I am hoping the one that is acting like that is just the breed personality

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Yeah... I've seen unsexed sexlink bins. Sometimes you have to ask if it is a bin of pullet sexlinks, or just know what color the sexlink girls should be.