Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
colorful, and their coats are made up of more vibrant colors. The hackle feathers around the
neck are pointed on a male and rounded on a female. These secondary characteristics should
give you the clues you need to identify the gender.
If you still cannot tell from the feathers, look at other physical traits. Combs and wattles tend
to grow faster in males. In most cases, they are larger as well. The legs and feet of roosters are
typically bigger and grow more quickly, too. Lastly, if the feathers and body parts do not give
away the bird's gender, its behavior can lead you to the answer. Males will have a more dom-
inant personality and may even scuttle with other males.
Once you determine the sexes of your flock, you will want to separate them as they mature in-
to pullets and cockerels. Males and females grow at a different rate, and separating the birds
keeps them on an even keel. The cockerels frequently chase the pullets to mate with them, and
separation will help control breeding. If you fail to separate your chicks, your flock can grow
quickly before you are ready.
Taking your chickens outside
Your chicks can go outside at 4 or 5 weeks old if they are supervised and can go out unsuper-
vised at 8 weeks old. If you have other chickens, the 8-week mark is a good time to introduce
your chicks to your adult flock. Some breeds are quicker to mature than others, such as the
leghorn, which may require you to adjust their timeline. They should be fully feathered and
able to care for themselves before you take them outside. Also, take into consideration the
weather conditions and the environment they will be in. You will find that roosters and breeds
such as Faverolles are active and will not want to be confined for long.
Dealing with sick chicks
After several weeks, you may notice that some chicks are weaker or have health problems.
Depending on the reasons you are keeping your chickens, you may have to remove sick birds
from the brood because their illnesses may be contagious. If you are raising show birds, these
chicks will not qualify to participate in exhibitions. Do not breed deformed or weak birds be-
cause there is a chance of reproducing that gene. As long as your birds are not sick, deformed,
or weak, you can raise them for meat or as pets. Keep them in a separate pen so they do not
mate with your show birds.
Vaccinations are an important part of your chickens' health. Any time after they are 8 weeks
old, chicks should be inoculated for fowl pox (sorehead) and Newcastle disease. Fowl pox is a
