Baby chicks

[finallyME]

Well, I finally convinced the misses that we need some chicks. Here is a video I did with our new flock. I got 10 Rode Island Reds, and plan to keep 4 for laying with the rest going into the freezer. That is, if they can survive all the attention.

[Justin Case]

Don't let the Cat see this

[nell67]

Cool beans,FM! Did you get straight run,or all pullets??? We have them in our store as well,I just purchased some Ameracauna chicks for 99 cents each (before my discount) they are normally nearly $3 each,but these came in a "Fry Pan Special" lot and I had to sex them myself to get just the pullets.

[Justin Case]

Cool beans,FM! Did you get straight run,or all pullets??? We have them in our store as well,I just purchased some Ameracauna chicks for 99 cents each (before my discount) they are normally nearly $3 each,but these came in a "Fry Pan Special" lot and I had to sex them myself to get just the pullets.

Oooooooooo Really ? woo hoo !

[nell67]

Pervert........,,And the way I do it does not entail looking under the tail at all.....

[Justin Case]

[nell67]

Justin,I "hang: the chicks to determine the sex,with my forefinger and thumb around its neck,I let it hang from my hand,if it "fights like a rooster" (kicks and scratches at your hand) it is a cockerel,if it "gives up" and just hangs with its feet straight down,it is a pullet.

It is not an exact science,but about 92% accurate,you can get your chicks cheaper in the farm supply stores by going to the straight run (mixed male and female) and sexing them yourself,they still have to give it to you at the cheaper s/r price.

I do this for a lot of customers on a daily basis when we have chicks in the store,and rabbits,I sex a lot of bunnies too..

[Justin Case]

Justin,I "hang: the chicks to determine the sex,with my forefinger and thumb around its neck,I let it hang from my hand,if it "fights like a rooster" (kicks and scratches at your hand) it is a cockerel,if it "gives up" and just hangs with its feet straight down,it is a pullet.

It is not an exact science,but about 92% accurate,you can get your chicks cheaper in the farm supply stores by going to the straight run (mixed male and female) and sexing them yourself,they still have to give it to you at the cheaper s/r price.

I do this for a lot of customers on a daily basis when we have chicks in the store,and rabbits,I sex a lot of bunnies too..

and you call me a "Pervert" lol,,, btw,, do boy chickens have an adams apple ?

[nell67]

I have never paid attention to whether they do or not.....and I have cut a lot of heads off chickens,it just never occured to me to check. LOL

ugghh,there is a lot of jokes about "choking chickens" where I work....

[finallyME]

Nell, they are all pullets. At least that is what the Farm store was selling them as. Last year when we were looking at the new chicks one of the employees what showing how to tell pullets from cockerels. He basically did what you just described. He would hold the chick upside down by both feet. If they did a sit-up, they were a cockerel. If they went limp, a pullet. Anyways, they had Ameraucanas, but they were $3.79 each and the RIRs were only $2.39 each. I might get a few of those next year. This is my first time, so we will see how it goes. Now I need to build the coop. I will probably build a tractor.

It took me a few times to figure how to sex rabbits. But, now I can do it pretty good, if they stay still long enough .

[nell67]

FM,if they are selling them as pullets,then they came in from the hatchery already sexed by the vent method,I don't do that one because if you dont do it right,you squish their guts out,but still there have been cockerels in the mix of pullets that came in pre sexed.

On the bunnies,grab them by the scruff of the neck,place 2 fingers between the ears and apply light pressure there,and it sort of paralyzes them while you hold them,soon as you left off the pressure,they are fine.

Never ung the chicks by their feet,just the neck! Will have to try that.

[Justin Case]

FM,if they are selling them as pullets,then they came in from the hatchery already sexed by the vent method,I don't do that one because if you dont do it right,you squish their guts out,but still there have been cockerels in the mix of pullets that came in pre sexed.

On the bunnies,grab them by the scruff of the neck,place 2 fingers between the ears and apply light pressure there,and it sort of paralyzes them while you hold them,soon as you left off the pressure,they are fine.

Never ung the chicks by their feet,just the neck! Will have to try that.

Hey,, That works on ME too !

[nell67]

Do you have long furry ears,Justin???

[Justin Case]

Do you have long furry ears,Justin???

you never said "Long and furry" btw,,, no I don't,, but i am fairly open minded

[nell67]

Then fagedabout it,I ain't sexing you!

[Justin Case]

Then fagedabout it,I ain't sexing you!

What ! I just placed the order ! http://www.amazon.com/bunny-ears-Bun...N%3DB000GL1DMW

[finallyME]

FM,if they are selling them as pullets,then they came in from the hatchery already sexed by the vent method,I don't do that one because if you dont do it right,you squish their guts out,but still there have been cockerels in the mix of pullets that came in pre sexed.

On the bunnies,grab them by the scruff of the neck,place 2 fingers between the ears and apply light pressure there,and it sort of paralyzes them while you hold them,soon as you left off the pressure,they are fine.

Never ung the chicks by their feet,just the neck! Will have to try that.

I won't mind a couple of cockerels. that is why I got 10 with the intent to keep 4 layers. As long as I have 4 layers, then I am happy. I will try that with the rabbits. It is really hard when the tiny kits are wiggly and you are trying to see a very small item. Also, the neighbor just gave me his doe. He got a divorce and wife took the kids. He didn't want the rabbit. Anyways, the doe is more aggressive than my others. She is calming down as I handle her more, but she still stomps at me when I come close.

[nell67]

Does can be VERY aggressive,I have one (californian) that you have to have leather gloves on to handle,she wants petted through the cage wire,but as soon as you put your hand inside the cage,she bites the hell out of you.

Usually that is a doe that has kits,or ready to,but this one is just bred for the first time,and has been biting for about 3 months,and Californians are the only ones I have had biting issues with.

[finallyME]

Does can be VERY aggressive,I have one (californian) that you have to have leather gloves on to handle,she wants petted through the cage wire,but as soon as you put your hand inside the cage,she bites the hell out of you.

Usually that is a doe that has kits,or ready to,but this one is just bred for the first time,and has been biting for about 3 months,and Californians are the only ones I have had biting issues with.

The first rabbit someone gave me was a very aggressive doe. I couldn't let my kids feed her. I had to do with leather gloves as well, like you described. I don't think the previous owner did much with her, so she was very antisocial. The dog thought she was really tasty.

[OhioGrizzLapp]

Chicks of any kind makes for GREAT Muskey bait on a hook harness................just sayin