:o *whispers* sorry not horsey related... any RIR breeders here?

phantomhorse

phantomhorse

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Sorry this isn't a horse related subject (altho I DO keep my chooks at the stables.... :D) but I wondered if anyone here hatched Rhode Island Red chicks and would have a 'guess' at what my two hatchlings are, boy/s or girl/s? They're about 9 weeks old now but with just the two of them it's really hard to use the sexing characteristics I've found online.

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A few more piccies in my Photobucket album here http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/khovan/astrid/RIR%20chicks%20Aug%202011/

I'm REALLY hoping they're girls as they are SOOO sweet and come down every evening to perch on the French doors waiting to be picked up to be put into their night accomodation.
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I'd hate to have to part with one or both of them :(
 
Those are boys..sorry.Too pronounced a comb for hens at this age.Easier with my cuckoo marans,as the boys are always silver and the girls dark charcoal speckled. Never mind..feed them up on growers mash ,just right for Christmas......ducks and runs :D:D:D:D
 
EAST KENT said:
Those are boys..sorry.Too pronounced a comb for hens at this age.Easier with my cuckoo marans,as the boys are always silver and the girls dark charcoal speckled. Never mind..feed them up on growers mash ,just right for Christmas......ducks and runs :D:D:D:D
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AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH........ NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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*Bloody typical*
 
I thought they were hens!! I have Brahmas so maybe they are different. I don't think they will start crowing until next Spring, then you'll start hearing a few grunts around 3am every morning. The proper cockadoodle do takes a while to develop!!
 
jendie said:
I thought they were hens!! I have Brahmas so maybe they are different. I don't think they will start crowing until next Spring, then you'll start hearing a few grunts around 3am every morning. The proper cockadoodle do takes a while to develop!!
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Hey, my fingers are still crossed!!!!

I've had quite a mixed opinion on what sex they are! It's quite frustrating not knowing. Next time I'm opting for sex-linked eggs to hatch :rolleyes:

They're quite 'pecky' so I'm wondering if they're boys, but then again maybe they're just opinionated hens! :D

I've 2 ex batts and a Pekin Bantam hen already and wonder if the older birds would react differently to young male/females being introduced? ATM the BOSS ex batt is very aggressive towards them when she spots them. Just wondered if she'd be more accepting of a potential 'mate'?
 
They look like cockerels, you could be lucky and haveone of each though

They can be introduced to the others from about 16-18 weeks

The Ex batt bully will kick their ar*es whatever sex they are but later on a male will take charge and put her in her place

If they are both cockerels then sooner or later they will start to fight over the hens, if they dont fight they will run three hens ragged between them so whatever way at least one will probably have to go
 
Fingers crossed for you. Our bantam managed to hatch one egg and yes it is a ****** cockeral! It's started crowing recently and sounds like a kids toy with batteries that are nearly flat. Have luckily got understanding neighbours as my 10 year old daughter is very attached to him and won't hear of him being rehomed.
 
I can beat you all... our sumatran game hatched 13 eggs (bleeping unlucky number, as you'll see... :( ) and they were ALL boys!

I did wonder whether this had happened...
A brief, chilly spell can change the sex of chickens in the egg, the festival learnt yesterday. The finding, which has been patented, could eventually lead to big changes in the poultry industry, writes Nicholas Schoon.

If the temperature is dropped by a few degrees for three days during the embryological development of a freshly laid egg, some chickens which should hatch out male instead become female.

They have the genes and chromosomes for maleness but they are fully functional females able to lay fertile eggs. If they are then crossed with normal males, the resulting chicks are all male, said Professor Mark Ferguson of the University of Manchester.
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-drop-in-temperature-can-change-the-sex-of-chickens-1238516.html
 
if they both are roo's does it really matter? or is it the noise you are worried about? if they are bought up together from chicks 9 times outta 10 they will live together without trouble. i think its 3-4 hens per roo maybe get away with 2 hens per roo? what are your plans if they are roo's? not to pi$$ on your bonfire but i dont think there is anywhere that will take in roo's either that or.... for wiw i think they are hens but i dont know if thats wishfull thinking for you lol. my roo has just started crowing at 3 months. we figured out he was a roo in the middle of month 3, huge cone and sprouting spurrs. so if they are you will be finding out soon. i still really do think they are hens tho :-/ keep us posted :-)
 
I am just amazed you managed to hatch rhode island reds, as they are crap mums :)

Don't worry too much I was convinced one of my chicks was a boy, massive combs, but turned out to be a girl.

I like cocks much better :) no pun intended, phone wont let me put correct word :D
 
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