[GAVIN]

Hi everyone,
Ive had my first lot of chickens now for 10 weeks,
They are approx 12 weeks old??? When can I tell if they are cockerals or hens? And if they are cockerals when will they start to crow.
 although I  was prepared to get some hens, I bought them at a farmers auction market and was suddenly talked into buying some chicks! They were cute  so never really thought abought what they would grow into untill now :shock: !

I think the chicks are light sussex, the mother hen is obviously not their mother, she is completelty different and im not sure what she is, i will have to post a picture someone may be able to help.

Also when will mum start laying eggs at the moment she is still sitting with the chicks.

Thanks in advance

[DD.]

Sorry can't help Gavin, but welcome to the forums. Please pop along to the 'Welcome to the Forums' forum & introduce yourself.

Incidentally, could you turn your caps lock off, it makes it harder to read and is considered impolite in some circles.

[Aunt Sally]

Aunty has taken the caps lock off for you dear. Now I'll go and read it  

[DD.]

Aunty has taken the caps lock off for you dear. Now I'll go and read it  

Cor. That's clever.

[WG.]

Aunty has taken the caps lock off for you dear. Now I'll go and read it  

Drat - after me turning up the radio while I was reading it too!!

[babe]

i wouldnt really be expecting much of anything now until spring.

and by then, they will be old enough that you will be able to see clearly whos a girly and whos not.

[babe]

and dont let yourself be talked into anything - just ask grannie, she went out for half a dozen eggs for breakfast and came back with 300 chicks

[Aunt Sally]

Have a look in the Help topic for how to post pictures Gavin.  There is a link in WG's or my signature fields.

[GAVIN]

Thanks for the caps lock Aunty, Im new to this kind of thing. And thanks for all the advice so far, Im not sure about 300 but the 5 ive got are great, just a little concerned about the neighbours if they grow into cockerels.

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks for the caps lock Aunty, Im new to this kind of thing. And thanks for all the advice so far, Im not sure about 300 but the 5 ive got are great, just a little concerned about the neighbours if they grow into cockerels.

 :shock: You'll have to introduce them to carrots and onions Gavin  

[babe]

Thanks for the caps lock Aunty, Im new to this kind of thing. And thanks for all the advice so far, Im not sure about 300 but the 5 ive got are great, just a little concerned about the neighbours if they grow into cockerels.

 :shock: You'll have to introduce them to carrots and onions Gavin  

phew im glad my elvis is in bed and cant see that aunty

[Aunt Sally]

:shock: Who could eat "The King"    

[babe]

well, i dunno, the original elvis was rather yummy in his younger days hee hee

[babe]

its ok, i know the way to the naughty step :cry:

[Aunt Sally]

I saw him in "Blue Hawaii" when I was a teenager.  

But I'm afraid I cannot divulge his effect upon me on an open forum  :oops:  

You'll get used to how quickly things go off topic here Gavin