Which is a roo?

[Michael OShay]

Hard to believe that of the six I got four are roos. Not very happy.

It's not at all uncommon to get more than 50% roos. That's the reason why when I order chicks from the hatcheries, I always order pullets instead of straight run. It costs a little more for pullet orders, but I actually save money because I don't have a bunch of roosters in the order. Even with a pullet order, I usually get a rooster or two as most hatcheries will only guarantee 90% on pullet orders. Even if I have to order more pullets than I want, since I have the order form showing that it was a pullet order, I've never had an trouble selling off the extras and recouping my money.

 

[Gilmore768]

Ok. I gotta know. How do you determine if it's a roo?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Ok. I gotta know. How do you determine if it's a roo?

That depends on breed and age of bird. Some breeds have distinct color/pattern differences between the genders with certain hybrids (sex links) and auto-sexing birds being able to be sight sexed at hatch and others only becoming obvious as the feathers come in with either the male or female patterning. For breeds for which this does not apply clues such as early comb/wattle growth and reddening, overall appearance of the bird, etc can be used. As the chicks mature the saddle, hackle and tail feathers will develop distinct characteristics that make telling male from female easy (males get long, pointy, shiny, flowing saddle/hackle feathers and sickle tail feathers, females do not). *Most* birds are pretty easy between 12-16 weeks, but some breeds can keep you guessing for months. And, of course, the tell-tale laying or crowing clue, lol.

ETA - for your birds specifically - the significant comb and wattle development for the age of the bird and the dark patchy color pattern showing through on the wing bows

 

[boersmamrs]

Saddle feathers, big red combs for being so young.

 

[Michael OShay]

That depends on breed and age of bird. Some breeds have distinct color/pattern differences between the genders with certain hybrids (sex links) and auto-sexing birds being able to be sight sexed at hatch and others only becoming obvious as the feathers come in with either the male or female patterning. For breeds for which this does not apply clues such as early comb/wattle growth and reddening, overall appearance of the bird, etc can be used. As the chicks mature the saddle, hackle and tail feathers will develop distinct characteristics that make telling male from female easy (males get long, pointy, shiny, flowing saddle/hackle feathers and sickle tail feathers, females do not). *Most* birds are pretty easy between 12-16 weeks, but some breeds can keep you guessing for months. And, of course, the tell-tale laying or crowing clue, lol.

ETA - for your birds specifically - the significant comb and wattle development for the age of the bird and the dark patchy color pattern showing through on the wing bows

Ol Grey Mare stated it perfectly.

 

[Wishapup]

Be glad you got 2 pullets. I gave 2 broodies some eggs to hatch. They produced 7 chicks. All 7 were cockerels.

50/50 is the average gender ratio of a hatch. Yours was close to that.

I agree. Our chickens must be related. 7 cockerels out of 7 chicks (hatched by incubator, not broody).

For the total hatch this spring, I considered my 62% overall cockerel rate a huge success.