“85%-90%”

[AinaWGSD]

I have ordered sexed pullets from a hatchery 3 times over the years, but we're only counting 2 of those because the third time is my current order and the eggs haven't even been laid yet. I've never ended up with an accidental rooster yet. Not even with sexed pullets bought at local farm stores.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed with day old chicks. Even if you spend money on DNA sexing there's still a 0.01% chance it could be wrong. Best thing is to have a contingency plan in place. And if getting an accidental rooster is a deal breaker then the only real guarantee is buying birds that are nearing maturity and you can tell are female.

 

[Strong Bad]

Here are some updated pics. The girls will be 6 weeks tomorrow.

Is it normal for all this red for Buff Orpington PULLETS??

What do you all think?

 

[Strong Bad]

Bumping here....
Really need your input on if I have roos.
My BO are 6 weeks today. Can anyone let me know?

 

[05cassie25]

My buff Orpington from cackle had me very concerned too, especially compared to my other breeds. I can confirm she is in fact a ‘she’ and we’ve been getting eggs for almost a year. I am newer to chickens so don’t want to guess on yours, but my pullet looked very similar to yours.

 

[Strong Bad]

My buff Orpington from cackle had me very concerned too, especially compared to my other breeds. I can confirm she is in fact a ‘she’ and we’ve been getting eggs for almost a year. I am newer to chickens so don’t want to guess on yours, but my pullet looked very similar to yours.

Do you have any old pics of when your BO hens was a chick that you can post?
I just see so much red in mine and I don't know if that is normal for my growing pullets.

 

[05cassie25]

Sorry, I don’t! I hope someone else can chime in and help though.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Here are some updated pics. The girls will be 6 weeks tomorrow.

Is it normal for all this red for Buff Orpington PULLETS??

What do you all think?

I'm thinking they're pullets. They have small combs and wattles, though they are pretty red.

 

[RememberTheWay]

The answer to that question highly depends on where you are buying the chicks from. Hatcheries tend to get their chick's sex right with the exception of Hoover's Hatchery, which is where Tractor Supply gets their chicks from. I have learned that typically in every "sexed pullet" bin at Tractor Supply, there will be at least one cockerel there, if not a few more.


To the trained eye, sexing chickens is easy. The average person can sex their chicks at six weeks, which is when they begin to lose their down feathers and replace those with normal plumage, making them look scraggly. During this time, you can see whether their feathers are pointed like a cockerel's or rounded like a pullet's. Sometimes, though, sexing chicks can come far earlier than that. My Cochin Bantam cockerel had large reddening comb and wattles, and he started crowing at about three weeks old. I have heard cockerels begin crowing as early as two weeks old, though that is rare.

Definitely happens- and actually even earlier then 2 wks. I have legbars here that are crowing at 7-10 days. I've seen ketawas and ayam cemanis at just 2-5 days old

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Definitely happens- and actually even earlier then 2 wks. I have legbars here that are crowing at 7-10 days. I've seen ketawas and ayam cemanis at just 2-5 days old

My Cemanis crowed young

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Definitely happens- and actually even earlier then 2 wks. I have legbars here that are crowing at 7-10 days. I've seen ketawas and ayam cemanis at just 2-5 days old

Yes, I know some crow earlier than that. And that is even more cute!