TSC white leghorn pullet chicks questions!

[BawkenQuackers]

Hi! Hopefully this isn't a silly question.
I bought these 5 sexed pullet chicks (purebred white leghorn) from Tractor supply. I'm curious why a few of them have orange dots on their heads? The dot typically means barring if I'm not mistaken, is this something that happens sometimes? Or were they mislabeled??

 

[nuthatched]

Does it wipe off?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would go to TSC and ask them if the orange dots mean cockerels and if so, will they take them back.

 

[Debbie292d]

I would go to TSC and ask them if the orange dots mean cockerels and if so, will they take them back.

Due to biosecurity measures I doubt they'd take them back, but should replace them if they're cockerels.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Due to biosecurity measures I doubt they'd take them back, but should replace them if they're cockerels.

Good point. It just seems the fact that some are marked and some are not, should have some significance. Different breed or gender.

 

[BawkenQuackers]

Does it wipe off?

I can check


Update! It doesn't wipe off

 

[BawkenQuackers]

I would go to TSC and ask them if the orange dots mean cockerels and if so, will they take them back.

I doubt they will too, that or I'm not sure they'd even do anything. It's past 24 hours.

 

[debid]

I doubt that TSC will be able to answer the question because the hatchery marked them but it won't hurt to ask.

If you have leg bands, go ahead and mark them so you will know later which ones they are.

It could be they were marked for mixed order use and the marks mean nothing aside from TSC's order takes priority and they needed to fill that box (not like they can unmark them once it's done). There is really no way to know.

 

[BawkenQuackers]

I doubt that TSC will be able to answer the question because the hatchery marked them but it won't hurt to ask.

If you have leg bands, go ahead and mark them so you will know later which ones they are.

It could be they were marked for mixed order use and the marks mean nothing aside from TSC's order takes priority and they needed to fill that box (not like they can unmark them once it's done). There is really no way to know.

So the dots are for sure not normal for white leghorn? I tried wiping it off of one with a little damp paper towel and it didn't come off the down.

 

[debid]

So the dots are for sure not normal for white leghorn? I tried wiping it off of one with a little damp paper towel and it didn't come off the down.

No, there is nothing natural looking about those orange dots. It might be an alcohol soluble ink rather than water based but no need to go wiping with alcohol pads. Whatever it meant won't be any more clear by knowing the ink is alcohol soluble and I think that would be unnecessary stress.