Maybe they just need to get rid of those roosters!

Okay, there's one vote for "on purpose"!

Porkpal, at least you are running slightly under the 10% mark. Out of 12 chicks this year, I got 2 roosters - 16%. Kosk down in Oregon had even worse luck, I think she ended up with more roosters than pullets! I got a mixed bag of chicks from the feed store, mostly pullets but a couple straight-runs, so I fully expected a rooster or two. Strangely, both chicks that came from straight-run bins were pullets, and both roosters came from pullet bins.

I remember when we were raising rabbits and trying to sex the bunnies. Per my oh-so-informative rabbit manual, the females had a round opening, and the males had an opening that was less round. ?? I'm guessing sexing little round balls of chicken fluff is about the same.

This cynic votes on purpose. Unless some breeds are harder to sex than others.

Little story: Last year we purchased six pullets from a nearby farmer and ended up with two roosters. I wasn't with my dh when he went and met with the elderly farmer, I mean this guy knew his chickens! We were getting four of the farmers mixed breed pullets and two Ameraucanas. When the farmer went to pick the Ameraucana pullets from the bunch, he hung them upside down, and the ones that squirmed and flapped, he said were pullets! Well, both of those were roosters. Somehow I think he knew that.

I bet he did know that and just wanted to sell them.

Or perhaps it was an honest mistake. I would think squirming and flapping would not be very reliable as a method of sexing, but what do I know...

I suppose it could have been an honest mistake, since I've heard of hanging roosters upside down to attempt to keep them docile. This was an old time farmer who has his own way of doing things. Now I'm feeling bad about being so cynical. My dh said the farmer reminded him of his grandfather.

Old time farmer surely had raised plenty of chickens, both hens and roosters. I bet he had a good idea they were roosters.

The hanging by the legs only works at certain ages - if at all. The little hens are unable to do the pull-up and reach your hand, the roosters are stronger - or so the story goes. I can normally sex chicks at about 4 - 5 days old by their wing and tail feather development. If I miss that stage I can't tell anything until the roosters make themselves known by their big feet and longer legs at about 2 months. Hatchlings? Forget it!

The worst error by a hatchery that I know of was when my son ordered six Jersey Giant pullets and got six Minorcas , two of which were roosters!

Now sexing kittens... that's a whole 'nother story!

I have often wished I had learned how to sex chickens at the time of hatching, but never learned how. I ordered 25 strait run from a place in Kentucky, and got 20 roosters, and 5 hens. Wonder what the chances of that happening at random are????? Probably as easy as winning the lottery. I have had good luck with Murray Mc Murray. I also got 25 chicks from our local Farm and Fleet store, and out of the 25 pullets, had one rooster show up, but they gave me about 5 extra that all were pullets, so I couldn't complain. I think they order from Cackle hatchery? Not sure of the name is right.

I saw an episode of 'Dirty Jobs' where Mike, the host was at a hatchery... let me see if I can find it on Youtube.

How about that, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Now I'm a old farmer and when I order 25 pullets I expect at least 2 roos And if they are heritage breeds I"ll be discussed if they have gotten a 100% right I want the roos LOL
Dave719

if it were not so expensive to ship them, I'd happily send you a few of mine.

My Acer griseum or the paperbark maple stood the storm OK. The Hurricane that hit us and Europe was named St. Jude and was far from Saintly!
Tons of damage everywhere and 15 dead. Trees down and leaves everywhere. Fences broken to bits and the farmers most unhappy
Street trees blown down due to the mass rain and then Hurricane winds, not nice for us. Last Hurricane was in October 1987 and millions of trees and livestock lost in that.
Everyone OK here Kathleen, hope you and the family are well.
porkpal our daft cat went out in that Hurricane, shook a few rodents up.
Shaken but not stirred.
My maple (Acer), just coming into its autumn/fall colours!
Regards to all, from a battered England.
Neil.

Oh dear. Glad you are safe and okay.

I thought of you (and the daft cat) when they were discussing your storm on the Weather channel, Neil.
Oh, it says your pic didn't load, just a blank spot which, assuming it a photo of the storm is rather frightening.
Happy Hallowe'en!

Hi Neil. Yes, that's a real cat!

I can see the picture. It may be the only way I get to see fall colors. Not much turning of leaves going on around here. It is still in the 80s most days. A similar but smaller storm is passing through Houston, but most of it is north of us. I'm glad you weathered the great storm!

For porkpal! A ford tractor made my matchbox, Leslie, England.
Difficult to drive. The engine is very slow.
Any offers over a dime as it is an old model?
Got it from a boot fair!
Regards.
Neil.

That is great, Neil! Stan has a large collection of JD toys with a sprinkling of Ford, New Holland and Case. He has several different sizes, many new, but also those from his childhood.

My dear Kathleen, this tractor is quite old as well. Stan is but a mere youngster to this. Show Stan and if he wants it, it is his!
Though porkpal may get upset!
I only paid 5 pence for the thing as it made me laugh!
Honestly it is old, but rather small and has no flat tires.
Regards.
Neil.