[VickyW]

I know this is on another post but not everyone will look in the swap shop. Please watch my vid and let me know if I have cocks or noisy hens, noone so far has been able to be certain.
They are coming up to 13 weeks old, pictures are in the swap shop under Chocolate Orps. Film picture pretty rubbish due to being filmed through mesh.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!
http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m498/VickyW76/

 

[Honeysuckle]

I'd say cockerels but I'm no expert 

[8doubles]

Well they have the `Cock a`and will soon `Doodle Do`.

The good news is a coat of black paint will make the weldmesh less visable.

[VickyW]

The good news is a coat of black paint will make the weldmesh less visable.

Thanks, but thats not my concern not looking good for them so far...

[Helenaj]

Unfortunately, I agree - cockerels.

[GrannieAnnie]

The good news is a coat of black paint will make the weldmesh less visable.

Thanks, but thats not my concern not looking good for them so far...

Well it would have helped to see more of them, but there are definitely at least 2 cockadoodles in there!

Sorry Vicky! 

[VickyW]

The good news is a coat of black paint will make the weldmesh less visable.

Thanks, but thats not my concern not looking good for them so far...

Well it would have helped to see more of them, but there are definitely at least 2 cockadoodles in there!

Sorry Vicky! 

There are some quite good pictures on the Choc Orp post Grannie, I feel rather sad now  If I can't rehome Christina, what age is suitable for dispatching to the pot?

[GrannieAnnie]

Don't feel sad Vicky, its one of the downsides to chicken keeping I'm afraid!  We have some lovely shaver black chicks, but it was awful having to cull the little boys when they hatched!  But much better than having to wait until they crowed and ate us out of house and home!

On the 2nd or 3rd hatch, we had 20 girls and 42 boys!   

I do hope you can re-home them. Chocolate is THE colour this year you know! 

[VickyW]

They've not made a noise today, could they know they're in trouble?

Even more so now that my hen-sitter says she can't take cockerels because of her neighbours, which is fair, but gives me 16 days to sex and rehome them if they're cocks, leaving a lonely hen whilst we're away  I really don't know what to do.

If ANYONE is in my area and would come and have a proper look and sex them I would so appreciate it...

[JaK]

Could you get in touch with a local breeder and ask if they could sex them for you?

[VickyW]

I've spoken to a localish vet who is also a poultry keeper and he said he'd have a look but may still not be able to give a definitive answer. He also suggested a DNA sexing process done by avian bio-tech who sex each bird through their feather samples. I've ordered the testing packs.

[joyfull]

thats interesting - how much do they cost?

[VickyW]

thats interesting - how much do they cost?

£14 per sample, cheaper if bulk testing, here's the link...
http://www.avianbiotech.co.uk/index.asp

[VickyW]

Just thought I'd update on my girls/boys...

I decided not to go for the DNA sampling and try to rehome them, in my heart of hearts I think I knew they were boys. I txt everyone who might help and as a last resort a breeder said he'd take them, but I managed to get them a place at a local park farm, who also sold pullets so I could replace.

An hour after seeing the guy, Doris and Christina were boxed up and on their way. On arrival a "great" chicken guy picked them out the box and announced they were hens!!!  What was I to do now??? My head in turmoil my OH went to compare to the farm's bantam breed, mine were the spit of the farms hens, nothing like their cockerel. He put them in with the cock and there was no fighting and when the hens all mixed together, mine got a few pecks from the others. Conclusion - 99% certain  they were hens.

But, he'll just check with his boss. So, whilst we picked out 2 new hens (well, we were there so it seemed rude not to) he checked. Boss says - Cocks.

3rd opinion given - Cocks.

So, the first guy said we could leave Doris & Christina there whilst we went on holiday and they could really find out their sex, then if they were hens we could have them back. Less stress on all sides.

So, we came home with Cadbury the Cream Legbar & Dotte the Wyandotte and in 4 weeks time we'll see if the others are coming home  :blink:

[AL Hathaway]

both on logs are boys the two crowing is kind of a dead give away