During this spring chick buying season,,,has any one gotten a roo that was bought as a pullet?
Just wondering how effecient the various sexers are, and what their mistakes might be.
Roos not hens?
Ha ha ha! Out of 25 birds, three were incorrectly sexed. Murray McMurray was the hatchery. I still use them because I've never lost a chick, but if the sexing is that much off again, I'll go elsewhere for my birds. I did not need those three cockerels.
Wellllllll, I bought mine form Meyer, 25, and so far only one Rooster!!! Soooo far!!!!
I am beginng to think one of my araucannas is of the loud kind.
Don't act like the other two,,,always first to run up and jump my hand, when I am changing water or feed. Kinda like protecting the others? His tail feathers are slow to grow ,too!He or she is just a little wird bird!They only 4 weeks ,but this one is a pistol. I think?! Middle pic is the one?
In my (brief) experience, the slowest chicks to mature (compared to others of their breed) have been cockerels.
This one fits that mold!
I have not been around chickens but for a couple of months,,,but this one is a strange bird! All breast feathers are snow white,,and gotta macho thing about ... If it ain't a roo,,,then I'm gonna name it Butch! Probably name it that anyway!
Is this what you mean turkeybeard ?
This IS an Australian Roo .
*snort*
well, they usually say 90% accuracy. I got 100% at murraymacmurray and at my grain store and I am waiting to see with this bunch....
It is very hard to sex chicks. ( huhhuhuhuhh always laugh when i write that) and so mistakes do happen. so i've been hoping my super friendly and curious little cuckoo maran is a hen, not a roo. my silkies are straight run so I am watching with baited breath to see what happens.
Got mine at the local Intermountain Farmers Assoc. I believe they got from Privett and I have a bad feeling that 50% of my 4 are male. The americauna's (Sophia) definitely got a comb that is no longer attached to the head at the top and the way Sophia acts toward Athena is giving me pause.
They do this eye to eye confrontation thing (the others do this to but not the rest...) and Sophia will.......how to describe...not fluff... doesn't sound menacing enough.......its like he/she has her "hackles" up along her neck. Like a cat not pleased......
What gets me is I had a misgiving when buying her/him (hey I can hope) because she/he was bigger then the rest. I let it go for age difference........Athena is still unable to fly though the other 3 have been for awhile......I have 2 bantams (Athena & Tanis) & 2 Americauna's. Thinking I will be ending up with only 1 of each makes me sad........Athena really is cute....Sophia is a bit of a bully already.....they do have their personalities.
The Cast
Cleo
Athena
Sophia
Tanis
The Crew
Mean
Queen
Nadine
Well! All I can say is...
If one tries to crow,
then I will know.
He'll get a pen of his own,
for 2 weeks or so.
fatten him up for show,
then drop the axe,
with one swift blow.
chicken & dumplings
a favorite of mine,
you might say I'm cruel
and outa line...
But they knew I was a snake,
when I first picked them up.
I know Turkeybeard, its just going to be tough. I helped process 100 birds in one day as a kid, when I first got them I thought I can do this I FISH - not the same after you have raised them for a month - I will buy the "fattening" food next time I drive by the feed store. While I am there I am going to talk to them and see if anyone wants a Roo - not holding out much hope though.......
I think I can do Sophia but Cleo is so cuute. And she's a bantam - not much meat - right? I do have males to go to if need be,to take care of this for me, I just do not like having them take care of something like this for me. My bed et al.
And yes its official, heard a definite non-female sound coming from her/him the other day (still hoping against hope), and Cleo's comb is definitely getting "worse".
Heard that the best way was to duct tape feet and hang suspended on a secure line, cut throat then debeak for ease of plucking - does that sound right - what do you do?
I have a really bad feeling this is goin to end up making me vegetarian.
Lately when I give Sophia treats I have been telling her "I feed you now & you will be feeding me later"...think he/she understands a bit to well...
Oh why, did I not just shell out the money and buy pullets from My Pet Chicken - boring breed, raising them yourself so they are tamer - be danged. I know why, this empty nester just wanted a baby in the house again but heck I am not Mommy Dearest.........
Anyhow, any advice on how to get through this will be appreciated.
MQN... I did not get chickens to raise for meat! I just wanted the eggs,,I have no problem ringing a neck. Hey you just gotta do it! I grew up in the late 50's anbd early 60's ...as a youngun ,,I remember always getting some baby chicks from the local feed store,,,probably cost a dime back then,,I don't remember.. I do not remember the eggs at all,,, but I remember, when they got good eating size,,,my uncles and cousins would set a day aside to ring chicken necks and have a feast,,, It is a fond memory I have of my relatives,,,one of not so many... If I were there I would do it for ya! I know we all get attached to these girls,,,and maybe the cocks too!
But , right now, I don't want a rooster. That may change as things reveal ,,, but ,I don't think so!
Sounds like Cleo may be cletus!
Quick and simple is to just jerk the head off... I hope you can get through this.
Let us know how it goes.
Sorry if I seem a bit crude!!! But ,I am not at all politically correct.
You Sure dont look like you grew up in the 50's , maybe the 60's !!! Haaaaaaaaaaa, that would make you as old as me!!!!!!! ( Hmmm, better start using the face soap Turkeybeard uses)
I was wondering if my little aracauna and one of my Light Brahmas were roosters, I was hoping for that! Yesterday I found out for sure! They have no visable outward physical signs yet , but...... the Aracauna decided to try to "pester" one of the girls yesterday. When he flew off her he ran at the Light Brahma ,who was running to see the "Action". They jumped at one another and the feet came up in the air , just like fighting Cocks! They only did it once then just stared at each other! So now I know I will soon be separating the two. the A is only about 6 weeks and the Brahma about 5weeks!
Yep! 1956 to be exact.
Face soap,,,, whats that?
Cletus - LOL - I was thinking Claude because he really is one, steps on the bantam's all the time NO Remorse. He is like 4X their size now.
1963 here, but I am Canadian so what is that in terms of American years? Am hoping it makes me younger (you know, by the metric calendar) - like in metric my weight is in the double digits not the triple...........
Was rereading - Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, that mentions using a broom handle and your feet, seems like the way to go for me.....( I have Fred Flintstone's feet......shush! do not tell him)........I reread my post and meant to say deBRAIN for ease of plucking not deBEAK - I am such a DUH brain - I should be able to DEbrain.....
Thanks for the moral support Turkeybeard, sure did not want to test my "practical survival skills" like I said I think I really could "do in" Cletus. But Athena is toooo cute and Likes me to much.... I talked to my neighbor - I just might NOT have to - I am such a baby. In my defense I bought Pullets for eggs not broilers for meat, BUT I did know that sexing chicks is tricky........