[katanadan]

Hi folks,

I know this may sound daft, but I have 2 plymouth barred rocks that I hatched out 19 weeks ago and I can't for the life of me work out if they're hens or cockerels. I've tried to upload photos but I can't get it to work. Does anyone have any photos of hens or cockerels so I can compare. It's really not as easy as it sounds 

[joyfull]

hello, sorry I don't have this breed but I just did a quick search on google and there are loads of pictures and history about them. Are their wattles and combs any different - are they large or small. Some breeds are difficult to sex until they either crow or lay (I have one that I thought was a boy but is now a very broody hen and another that I thought was a girl but is now crowing and treading for England  ).

[katanadan]

Well I think they gave the game away by treading my orpington hen today 

So I've put some adverts up for them and if someone doesn't want them I'll be having a some free range chicken roast dinner 
On that note, does anyone have any idea how old the plymouth rocks should be before they get the axe? I had a feel today and there didn't appear to be much meat on them. I'll get some finishers pellets ir something if that will help but don't want to go through the trouble if they will be too old and stringy by the time they're ready. They're both about 20 weeks now.