Just found out 2 of my sussex are cocks..

[Smoggy67]

:
Really upset, just when my brady bunch raggamuffin chooks were settling in, a friend comesround and points out 2 of my West Sussex are Cocks..

Gutted - but they will have to go to market thursday before they start crowing...

That will take me down to 9... which means I can get 6 more :

Missus slipped up and said "You are not getting loads, 15 is enough" !!!

[MrsC]

Sorry to hear that, but then you can get more! Just brought home 3 polish bantams from the lottie today, fingers crossed!

[Smoggy67]

Good luck Mrs C, Nothin worse than getting attatched, then having to get rid..

[MrsC]

I know, that's the thing, already given them names!

[petal]

Wouldn't bother me, christmas dinner for cockerels here i'm afraid, names or not!!!!!!

[frias]

I've known from hatching that 3 of my 4 Welsummers were boys. The girl is called Rose but the boys are just called blue, brown and yellow which is the colour of their legbands. I'ts no easier though even without names, I'm starting to feel a bit sick at the thought that they will have to go. They are only 9 weeks old and hopefully the crowing is still along way off.

[MrsC]

Sorry, couldn't do that, strict veggie here

[di]

Sorry to hear of yet another hiccup for you Smoggy!...but pretty impressed that nowts gonna get in the way of you & your new found obsession!

Hope come next Thursday you finally get what you're looking for!...although may I suggest if 15 is your limit that you don't reach it too quickly.Once the addiction really kicks in you'll find yourself flicking through mags,searching the net & falling totally in love with breeds you'd never imagined existed...always best to leave a little room!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Difficult to tell from your original piccies - can you post a few more of the sussex then maybe we can have a look - most peopel on here will vouch for the fact that sussex are difficult to sex young as both girls and boys have combs and wattles - its usually the spurs that give it away!

[MaureenHall]

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but ........... how old are cockerels (any breed) when the spurs first start to show? It might be a good indicator when other signs (e.g. crowing) aren't apparent

[Snadger]

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but ........... how old are cockerels (any breed) when the spurs first start to show? It might be a good indicator when other signs (e.g. crowing) aren't apparent

All of my cockerels haven't developed spur bumps until well after they started crowing. A couple of months after I would think? So that would make it about 22 to 24 weeks for mine!

[Snadger]

:
Really upset, just when my brady bunch raggamuffin chooks were settling in, a friend comesround and points out 2 of my West Sussex are Cocks..

Gutted - but they will have to go to market thursday before they start crowing...

That will take me down to 9... which means I can get 6 more :

Missus slipped up and said "You are not getting loads, 15 is enough" !!!

Just wondered ...............are 'West Sussex' an actual breed? I've got Light Sussex chooks but never heard of West Sussex?

[Smoggy67]

Snadger spots the newbies mistake...grrr

Hiya all, sorry not posted but been real busy, had the outlaws visiting for weekend..

Snadger - you are correct, I cant help myself though - i think sussex, and west jumps straight to mind??

Heres the pics you asked for bramble - the tails are a dead giveaway my mate said?

[TPeers]

Not so sure myself - I think they are both girls. The combs and wattles are far to small to be cockrels.

[RichmondHens]

Disagree TP, think they are both cocks. Tails are growing in the classic "turn down" way. Girls poke up.