The sex fairy arrived

[Sheltiepawz]

I would separate the chicks for awhile. Are the chicks just a few days old?

Oh they would be in the brooder in garage. My new chicks are living in their palace outside now. It’s very warm here still.

 

[cmom]

All hatcheries have a 90% guarantee so there is always a chance you can get a male but they are still more likely to be females.

 

[Sheltiepawz]

Option 1 A place sells started pullets by me. They would be 8 weeks old when I get them so essentially the same age as my gals. I would have to quarantine for a month, so they would all be 12 weeks when put together.

You would know that they are pullets. They will start laying relatively soon. They are mature enough you don't have to worry about cooler weather or adding heat. If you have enough room integration probably won't be that bad, but enough room is critical for any integration. How many are you getting? It should be easier to only get a few started pullets.

Option 2 get baby chicks again. Not sure when the would be able to go together, but the earliest I am guessing is 6 weeks??? So oldest batch would be 12-14weeks when this happens depending on where I get my chicks from.

Even in south LA you'll have to brood them. This integration could be a bit more challenging though we do it all the time. Extra facilities can help. Will you get more cockerels? Is there a minimum number you have to buy and is that a problem?

Option 3 wait a year and see how much damage the chicken math has done by this time in reducing my numbers further.

I won't bother with this.

If I got the started 8 week old pullets possibly only 2, maybe 3. Depends on breeds available.

baby chicks I would get 4 for insurance for the sexing fairy!

 

[cmom]

When you do integrate the birds there will be some squabbles as they sort out their pecking order.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I prefer to integrate young 4 to 6 week olds (fully or nearly fully feathered chicks) in with the older birds. The little ones are small enough to dart into and under hidey-holes, some of which have groceries in them. These spaces are small enough that the big girls cannot follow the little ones in, so they cannot deny the chicks food and water. Brooding the chicks in an area that the established flock will see and hear them on an every day basis will go a long way towards a smooth integration process.

 

[PirateGirl]

I would definitely wait a year, as hard as it is. This way you will have pullets coming into lay as the others are going into their first big molt. Having staggered ages will keep you in eggs longer (assuming you are raising them for eggs).

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would definitely wait a year, as hard as it is. This way you will have pullets coming into lay as the others are going into their first big molt. Having staggered ages will keep you in eggs longer (assuming you are raising them for eggs).

Same, assuming eggs matter to you, you'll find more consistent production if you stagger the ages of your flock.

 

[keesmom]

I would go with option #3, with maybe waiting even 2 years before adding new pullets to stagger the egg production.

This is my “sexy fairy”. The breeder said she was a pullet. I forgot “her” name (my daughter names them after horror game characters, mostly Japanese) but his name is now Dammit Jim (Palontras according to my daughter).

If your daughter is upset that she won't get colored eggs from her EE "pullet", you can let her know there wouldn't be any blue/green eggs from this bird even if it were female. He isn't an EE; hard to tell from the pic but he could be a speckled Sussex. Assuming this person got hatchery chicks for resale and they aren't barnyard mixes.

 

[Sheltiepawz]

I would definitely wait a year, as hard as it is. This way you will have pullets coming into lay as the others are going into their first big molt. Having staggered ages will keep you in eggs longer (assuming you are raising them for eggs).

I would go with option #3, with maybe waiting even 2 years before adding new pullets to stagger the egg production.

If your daughter is upset that she won't get colored eggs from her EE "pullet", you can let her know there wouldn't be any blue/green eggs from this bird even if it were female. He isn't an EE; hard to tell from the pic but he could be a speckled Sussex. Assuming this person got hatchery chicks for resale and they aren't barnyard mixes.

It’s an Easter egger. I got the chicks from Meyers. If it’s not I’ll be really upset because that’s what I ordered. It’s the chick in my profile. Yes, she is upset, but says she has not given up hope Easter is a girl. Here are some more pics of her/ him the past weeks. I’m leaning toward getting baby chicks from the feed store( which is NOT tractor supply lol). They will be getting BO and BRs in on Saturday. I wish I could say we are worried about egg production but we are not. It’s just a bonus.

 

[keesmom]

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It’s an Easter egger. I got the chicks from Meyers. If it’s not I’ll be really upset because that’s what I ordered. It’s the chick in my profile. Yes, she is upset, but says she has not given up hope Easter is a girl. Here are some more pics of her/ him the past weeks. I’m leaning toward getting baby chicks from the feed store( which is NOT tractor supply lol). They will be getting BO and BRs in on Saturday. I wish I could say we are worried about egg production but we are not. It’s just a bonus.

Whoops, wasn't paying enough attention. Another poster had a pic of their mis-sexed cockerel and I thought it was yours. Yours is an EE, and I agree a likely male.