Too early to crow?

[aart]

we have now split our 10 chickens into two groups, 6 and 4. There are 4 larger ones in the group of 6, with bright red combs. In the last two days, they have been picking fights with each other, while the ones without combs just stay away. There’s a pic of the group of 6, the four “cockerels” front and center.

While males might be more likely to 'fight', females will do that too, especially in tight quarters. Give them more space if possible.
Has the person running this deal advised what to do about the gender imbalance, as it's skewing the 'contest'....or what to do with all these excess males??
Are the other participants also finding more males than anticipated?

 

[Stephen Sharpe]

looks like at least 4 of them are Roos. Could not tell if one on water dispenser was or not. I had similar situation with some 5 week olds starting to crow. It is early but not unheard of. If these are pets start handling the Roos more often.

 

[apryl29]

My buff orp was also mis-sexed as a female when he was actually a boy. I put an ad in my local newspaper and gave him away for free as I already had 2 other cockerels and not enough ladies for 3 boys. You might try offering them on craigslist or something similar. The guy I gave mine to said he watching the papers and online for local free birds for his farm rather than buying them from the feed stores so I imagine there may be farmers near you that do the same. Good luck with finding them homes!

 

[MLeon]

While males might be more likely to 'fight', females will do that too, especially in tight quarters. Give them more space if possible.
Has the person running this deal advised what to do about the gender imbalance, as it's skewing the 'contest'....or what to do with all these excess males??
Are the other participants also finding more males than anticipated?

They will be moved to an outside coop next Monday. They are 7 weeks old tomorrow. The “roos” pick fights when they bump against each other, while the smaller ones just avoid any confrontation or may do a quick reaction if provoked, like a snap, and then walk away. The people running the program explained any roosters need to be removed as this isn’t a commercial egg laying project. We have found a home for the one who crows and fights the most, pretty sure that one is a cockarel. May have to wait a few more weeks to confirm the rest. As for the rest of the participants from our school, more than have are experiencing the same, seemingly more cockerels than pullets.

 

[MLeon]

looks like at least 4 of them are Roos. Could not tell if one on water dispenser was or not. I had similar situation with some 5 week olds starting to crow. It is early but not unheard of. If these are pets start handling the Roos more often.

The roos are actually the friendliest! They like to be held and pet.

 

[Folly's place]

'Friendly ' cockerels are the boldest, and may well decide that humans are wimps, and start attacking you in a few months. I'm happy to have friendly pullets, but want the boys to respect my space and move out of my way at all times. Mary

 

[aart]

The people running the program explained any roosters need to be removed as this isn’t a commercial egg laying project.

<scratcheshead> males have nothing to do with egg production.

 

[sourland]

Sorry, but it looks like a strong possibility of six cockerels to me.

 

[MLeon]

<scratcheshead> males have nothing to do with egg production.

Lol, they want to make sure we don’t need have fertilized eggs. My daughter is supposed to auction her best 3 hens out of the 10. She may now have 4-5 to choose from instead of the 10 we expected.

 

[MLeon]

Lol, they want to make sure we don’t need have fertilized eggs. My daughter is supposed to auction her best 3 hens out of the 10. She may now have 4-5 to choose from instead of the 10 we expected.

And I meant to say this is a commercial egg laying hen program.