Tractor Supply “pullets”

[FamilyOf8]

I should start by saying this is my families first time with chickens. Being a family of 8, we thought we would get some pullets and eventually the eggs would help our grocery bill a little bit. We went to Tractor Supply on 8/5 and got 6 Rhode Island Red pullets and were told they were between 5 and 8 days old. I have one that is concerning me because “she” now has a comb that is a lot bigger than the others, and “she” is also a lot bigger in size. She was a little bigger than the others to begin with so we just figured she was older than the rest but the comb is really getting me. Please tell me I didn’t get a cockerel.

 

[Cyprus]

That's a cockerel.

Raising backyard chickens for eggs is extraordinarily more expensive than purchasing almost any quantity of eggs from the store per month.

 

[Ebony Rose]

You might have a cockerel but you'll know more when they're closer to 6 weeks of age. If you're only raising them for eggs, your wallet would be better off with store bought. If however, you are also raising them for meat, then having the cockerel shouldn't be a problem. Process him for the table soon after he starts going super-hormonal.

 

[FamilyOf8]

That's a cockerel.

Raising backyard chickens for eggs is extraordinarily more expensive than purchasing almost any quantity of eggs from the store per month.

We built a large coop ourselves and they will also free range as we live on a private back road and have a few acres. With a family of 8, we go through roughly 30 eggs a week and that’s on the low side. This is also a way to teach our children responsibility.

Thanks for confirming what I thought. He seems to keep a close eye on the girls which made me think even more than he was a cockerel.

 

[Cyprus]

We built a large coop ourselves and they will also free range as we live on a private back road and have a few acres. With a family of 8, we go through roughly 30 eggs a week and that’s on the low side. This is also a way to teach our children responsibility.

Thanks for confirming what I thought. He seems to keep a close eye on the girls which made me think even more than he was a cockerel.

You may not believe me, but it seriously is cheaper to buy from the store. Hundreds of dollars cheaper.

Average coop build cost is $200, average feed for 8 chickens is $20-$25 a months, supplies is an easy $70-$100 initial investment, medicine is anywhere from $4-$300 per item.

 

[HuffleClaw]

That’s a cockerel, and so is the one below it (I’ve added an arrow pointing to it)...

 

[FamilyOf8]

You may not believe me, but it seriously is cheaper to buy from the store. Hundreds of dollars cheaper.

Average coop build cost is $200, average feed for 8 chickens is $20-$25 a months, supplies is an easy $70-$100 initial investment, medicine is anywhere from $4-$300 per item.

We will see how it goes with these. The coop didn’t really cost us anything as we had some left over materials from a home project. Right now we spend roughly $40 a month on eggs to feed our family. My 6 children (age range 7-13) find them really fascinating to watch and are already picking up responsibilities in caring for them.

 

[FamilyOf8]

That’s a cockerel, and so is the one below it (I’ve added an arrow pointing to it)...
View attachment 1891832

Didn’t even think anything about that one. When we first got them, those two were the two bigger ones. Never crossed my mind that one may be. Thank you for pointing it out.

 

[FamilyOf8]

That’s a cockerel, and so is the one below it (I’ve added an arrow pointing to it)...
View attachment 1891832

Can I ask how you know so I can keep an eye out on the rest of the “girls”?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Can I ask how you know so I can keep an eye out on the rest of the “girls”?

Its comb is a bit too red & developed to be a pullet. If that makes sense.