Swapping out a rooster at the chicken farm

[coronalime]

I have 6 chickens from a farm. Different mixed breeds. Unsexed. I'm not allowed roosters. The farm will swap out any roosters for a hen whenever I want. They will try and give me one around the same size if possible.

My Easter egger let out a large crow. I have 2 black ones that are probably roosters as well. They are about 8 weeks give or take.

Do I still have to follow all the quarantine rules ? Should I just return the majority even with being unsure. I'm definite 2 are hens but 4 could be Roos possibly.

I don't know what to do.

 

[keesmom]

Post some pictures. At 8 weeks it should be easy to tell males from females.

 

[Kelsie2290]

You could post pictures of the birds you are unsure of in the What Breed/Gender forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this I would be inclined to return any you are unsure of and maybe take a few extra back so you have enough girls for sure and don't have to do yet a third swap.
How long have you had the chickens? You will need to integrate them slowly, over a week or two... technically you should do a health quarantine for a good month plus also, but since they came from the same place so recently I would probably take my chances and would go by how the place and their birds look etc and what the odds are the birds are healthy and only do a short quarantine rather than a couple of months.

 

[Mrs. K]

Look for dark green/black shiny feathers - those are your roos if they are a mix.

I would not worry about the quarantine..... going toward your house, but if I was the breeder, I would take precautions. Not that I am implying any poor management on your part. It is probable that her birds have not been anywhere new, to pick something new up. Not guaranteed of course, for example if she routinely introduces birds to her set up, or shows the birds..... but generally, people don't take their farm birds anywhere.

It is if she/he is a serious breeder, a disease could wipe out a very large and expensive flock to replace. Where as if you just have a few, and they came from there originally, not too long ago, I don't think you would have any concerns.

Mrs K

good grief, I have edited this twice, cause I think it sounds rude..... and that is not what I mean to be, no offense is intended..... I am just saying that birds that stay in the same place are safer than birds that have traveled, your did travel to your house..... maybe I should just delete this whole thing?

 

[pmcatnip]

Look for dark green/black shiny feathers - those are your roos if they are a mix.

Oh? My hens have glossy black-green feathers. Any of my chickens that have black, it is the glossy greenish black. I just figured that is how chicken feathers are.

 

[donrae]

quarantine is a personal decision, based on your own risk assessment.

To be done correctly, quarantine takes correct facilities and distance and hygiene. Incorrect quarantine isn't worth much. I'd say many of the folks here who say the quarantine don't do it correctly.

In your situation, I don't think I'd worry about it. You got your original birds from that seller, not that long ago. I'm sure if anything has changed in the health of her flock, she'd let you know. And, while it would be sad to lose 6 young birds, it's not like you're talking a large flock that's a source of income, or heritage birds of difficult-to-replace bloodlines, anything like that. Your birds could easily be replaced for minimal financial outlay.

 

[Mrs. K]

pmcatnip - I think it depends on the breeds. The black colored breeds will definitely often have a green shine.

I was told that mixed breed chickens, the rooster will have a green feather. I had a bunch, all different colors, but the ones with the green feathers were 100% roosters. Sometimes just a an odd one, but they were all male. Perhaps just a wives tale.

Mrs K