These things happen......if you work at it hard enough.

I was tempted and I succumbed.

Feed store had 70+ barred rock chicks yesterday and I could clearly discern thanks to my Dave'sGarden P&L sex-link tutorial and official pullet seeking glasses, that only three were pullets. I now strongly suspect hatchery loads feedstore with roos--since there should have been a 50/50 ratio with a straight run.

Lured unsuspecting DH to said feed store today and did amazing song and dance about great opportunity to get small number of known pullets for very low coast.

Results: Three barred rock pullets approximately 1 week old in brooder.

Requesting that CF verify head spot dimensions. Am I losing all control?

Cat dear... You lost *THAT* a verrrrry looong time ago....^_^

Oh yeah... and why are those 2 PO'd at each other?? The 3rd seems to be highly offended at the language... LOL

It seems I had everything on hand except the starter mash--I think they were planning an insurrection.

Sure looks like it .. LOL The 3rd is having no part of it... or evesdropping in order to alert you ....ROFL...^_^

Giggle...pullet seeking glasses.....snicker...

Would like to be taught the "amazing song and dance" to convince hubbies regarding poultry purchases.

Verifying no loss of control has occurred - simply a rescue mission. Very commendable!

"....only three were pullets. I now strongly suspect hatchery loads feedstore with roos--since there should have been a 50/50 ratio with a straight run."

Of course, all the previous customers might have also been able to discern the gender and chosen only pullets...leaving the cockerels for the unsuspecting.

Suze

But there were 70 Barred Rock chicks yesterday and only 3 pullets, but about 25 today and still 3 pullets...meaning that someone selected 35 roos between then and now. The containers near them had cheaper Red Broilers and White Cornish-- I don't think someone would knowingly pay more for less meat on slower maturing Plymouth Rock roos, would they?

Anyway this is the same hatchery that sent me 4 roos when I paid for 4 pullets last year. And the head spot difference is fairly subtle.

I hate to sound cynical, but the big hatcheries are always drowning in roos--thats why they pack them in with orders in order to "keep the chicks you purchased warm". I've heard they end up culling a lot of them too.

Does anyone know the real story?

Okay--are you sure you picked correctly? I know I always get mixed up as to which have the smaller head spot. I have a lone incubator chicklet who is barred (although it's now in with some slightly older babies) with a tiny head spot--and as usual I can't remember whether that means 1 barring gene or 2. I suppose it would help if I hatched more barred/cuckoo babies, but the aren't very common for me.

Suze

when i use to order chicks i ordered around 40 at a time but decided that i just had to have some brown reds i only wanted 11 and ordered them. When the tiny things arrived they had put in standard size roo chicks for warmeth 11 of them and they stomped crushed the poor bantams i only had 5 survive and it was touch and go for a while for those i gave the roos away the same day. I will never order less than 25 again.

The smaller, well-defined head spot is a pullet--the large diffused one is the cockerel. It holds true with cuckoo Marans as well--although with Marans the whole roo is noticable lighter. We had a good paper on it. I'll see if I can find the link.

Here it is--wow--I forgot about the down based sexing of Rhode Island Reds. May have to go back to the feedstore:

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/pr_histpubs/Pubs/SB307.PDF

Okay, sounds like she is a keeper, then

HOLDOUT!! Did you put that on the link thread?

Noooooo. Said sheepishly. I will now.

Just tried chick flipping of putative pullets--all three pulled both legs in!

Thought it was a 2 leg out one leg out thing?! Where's that thread!

Just think how smart we'd be if we kept all our smarts in one thread!

Well if it is one leg in for a pullet--these must be super-pullets! Actually I was a little concerned because the smaller one has longer tail and primaries--which in my experience = pullet. The other two are also a little bolder--but of course I am not comparing them to the known roos.

If they hold both legs in.. you could try waiting a little longer.. In time, they will flop a leg or two. I had some that were slow.. but they will relax.

I saw you go by today Catscan! Wanted you to stop! Sorry I was so busy.. I just came in a bit ago.. I bet I won't be able to stand upright tomorrow.. super tired!

Where did you see me? I thought I had my tracks pretty well covered.....

It was the cloud of chicken feathers you were blowing out your tailpipe, probably. Dead Giveaway. Down as an alternative fuel source is great, but...

Don't tell me I made a fool of myself waving to come back at someone else! LOL I'm guessing you didn't go down the frontage road??
Darling babiez!!!!

Nope, just went to Robinson's and Lowes. You must be getting quite a reputation. First the chickens and now waving down strangers on the access road. Lodi really doesn't need another Crazy Chicken Lady. Maybe we should divide up the district? I'll take the city and you can have the outskirts?

LOL These folks are used to it..

So that means I have to keep my craziness under wraps when I'm in town?

Is Robinson's considered outskirts?

Yep--but as you know they think highly of me at Robinson's. You can act the way you normally do in town--just don't mention the ch-----s. Okay?

Whatever you say.. LOL

dont' have time to read all of this, as i am still COUTING my chickens to see hwo mnany ar egone...

but looks like three pullets to me, congrat! need a roo to go withthose? of the four BR roos, i cna only find one, EggNog...

Feather evidence? Garage sale rubber-nekkers? Suspicious openings? Delectable goodie pile? Noooo TF, surely they're around there somewhere?!

When did you notice?

can't recall the EXACT time i didn't see ythem last, and i haven't slept much since them. please keep your eye pealed...

So TF WHAT did you do to P*** O** the CF like that! LOL I wonder who she gave your chickens to? ROFL. Oh boy you don't think she dropped them on Josh in Ohio? Can you picture all those chickens dropping down on him out of the blue? LOL Floating on little parachutes!

MollyD

LOL, maybe Josh WILL get some... if he comes to Missouri...

LOL has he won his local lottery then?

MollyD

CS, are you seeing any signs of life development in those eggs you put in saturday?
also, white roo +blue lace hen=?