2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[MammaT]

Ok, apologies before I begin for the long and photo heavy post.

 

These RIR chicks are 7wks old now and I bought them at 2wks. The bad news is that it was at an auction so I know next to nothing about them except that they were listed as females. We love them very much and they are currently residing in a broody pen in my dining room as it's a bit cold for them to be outside. They spend lots of time wandering around the house too - bizarrely this is great fun for all of us.

 

One of them has always been slightly bigger than the others and feathered up a lot quicker. She has a definite tail and a small comb and no dangly wattles(?) - I'm assuming she's a girl.

Princess Layer

 

The other 2 have always been the same size and feathered up at the same rate until about a week ago when Dixie sped ahead leaving Freckle behind. Dixie and Freckle both have larger combs than Layer and wattles

Dixie's face furniture.

 

Freckle

 

 

freckle's patchy feathering.

 

I've also checked out the thickness of their legs (impossible to photograph as they move too much) and Layer's are slightly thinner than the others. I've also found bumps on their legs which I thought may be the start of spurs but they all have them!

 

I've also been surprised to find that they all sing! They've moved from cheeping to trilling. My son says it's like being in a tropical rain forest. It's lovely but unexpected, do they all do that?

 

I'd be grateful for your opinions as to girls or boys. I'm prepared to wait it out until crowing time if necessary but I've been preparing the children for the fact that they may have to go. They have great little personalities and are very gentle and tame. Dixie spends a lot of time on my sons shoulder.

 

The most annoying bit is that this is why I didn't hatch eggs myself as I knew there'd be roosters in there - I thought this way I'd be ok. I'm desperately hoping that they are just all developing at different rates and that they will all eventually lay eggs!

 

Thanks for your time and all comments welcome (even the ones about my being an idiot for buying at auction!).

 

Teresa.

[Griffin]

Dixie and Freckle do look like boys I'm afraid

[MammaT]

Yes that's what I thought Griffin. I was just blindly hoping that someone would say that RIR are notorious for slow and erratic development with loads of early face furniture! Never mind. I'm sure many have had the same problem and managed.

 

Thanks

Teresa

[Redwing]

Griffin is right sadly

 

RIR cant be sexed early as far as I know and it was irresponsible for someone to list these as sexed at that age

[Egluntyne]

I think Princess Layer is the only girl too.

 

Time will tell.

[MammaT]

Thanks Egluntyne, I do think you're all right. I agree Redwing that it was wrong for the vendor to list them as females when they weren't sure but, looking back, I probably shouldn''t have let myself fall for them. I saw them listed in the catalogue and did some research before we went but obviously not enough!

 

It'll be such a palaver though as they'll have to be re-homed, or swapped if I can get in touch with the vendor through the auction house. It's a problem for Layer as well as I already have 2 girls and was planning to introduce the new 3 but now she'll be alone so I'll have to get a couple of POL at the time which will need some careful handling. She's a very chilled out little lady, as are the 2 Goldline I already have so I really want to do the right thing.

 

It'll all come out in the wash!!

[Jools]

I agree with Redwing, they should have been sold as "unsexed" at 2wks old. Once they get to around 3-4wks it gets easier. If they're pure RIR, they're very placcid birds and good non-broody layers.

 

Please prepare yourself for not being able to rehome (or swap) the boys though. RIR are quite common so unless they're superb examples of the breed and with a good pedigree, the boys are not exactly sought after. Your best bet may be to find someone who is happy to raise them for the table, or even someone who will do the deed for you. Whatever you do, please don't put them into an auction as they're almost certain to suffer an unhappy fate.

[bevmatt]

Yep I aggre - at least 2 boys...

Also it is a common 'trick' at auction to sell youngsters - although normally they are listed as unsexed to unsuspecting members of the public - its an easy wasy to clear your boys...

A clever breeder will be able to 'guess' boys and girls at a very early age. WIth Feather sexing you can sex at 1 - 2 days old and then once they are 3 days plus they all look the same so if you were devious you could feather sex and then once you know the answers sell the boys on - quickly as unsexed.

I know i visited a local auction recently and was horrified when I saw a cage with about 10 youngsters in - can't remember the sex now but the looked to be 100% boys to me. - they were being sold with a broody silkie hen as unsexed - yeah likely they were unsexed.