Too many cocks in this flock!

[Happyacrehomestead]

Hey crew-


my first backyard chicken journey as an adult & I opted for straight run tsc “rainbow” chicks. We added some leghorn pullets when it seemed many of our first batch were Roos.... lots of little fights breaking out & it’s time to make some tough choices.

Would love some thoughts on possible breed/sex of the black/red birds! 8 weeks old.

1-3 Seem to be roosters, gold lace Wyandottes?

AB & D are enormous, (easily 3lbs each) yellow soles on feet. Black jersey giants? A&B seem to be cockerels, lots of fighting between them already & beautiful blue/green shine on their feathers. Hoping D is a pullet.

C is maybe an australorp, smaller with very red wattles/comb... and a cockerel (I think)

thanks for your thoughts!! Would also love any advice on what to do with all these cockerels...

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I believe all you assumptions are correct. BJ giants have yellow on the bottom of their feet. Your other black one would be a black australorp or Orpington depending on if it's leg color is all dark or slate. Unfortunately at 8 weeks, all are male including D. Your other two laced ones indeed look like Wyandotte. So sorry about the rotten luck on getting all males!

 

[Happyacrehomestead]

I believe all you assumptions are correct. BJ giants have yellow on the bottom of their feet. Your other black one would be a black australorp or Orpington depending on if it's leg color is all dark or slate. Unfortunately at 8 weeks, all are male including D. Your other two laced ones indeed look like Wyandotte. So sorry about the rotten luck on getting all males!

Hey, I got 1 pullet out of my original batch. Not too bad, right? Thanks for your help on the ID. Guess I'll be finding homes for some roos...

 

[NatJ]

Would also love any advice on what to do with all these cockerels...

Fried chicken? Or chicken soup, depending on how old they are when you finish deciding.

 

[Happyacrehomestead]

My hope is that some of them will find a great home with some girls. The rest will probably go to freezer camp- hoping to get them to 12 weeks, first!