Pullet, Straight Run or Cockerel? What Chick Sex Options Mean
Chad SimsShare
By Chad Sims, founder, Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery, Preston, MD
When you order day-old chicks, most breeds come in three options: pullet, straight run and cockerel. The option you pick decides how many hens and roosters you'll end up with, and it changes the price. Here's what each one means.
The quick version
- Pullet = a female chick. Choose this if you want eggs.
- Cockerel = a male chick. Choose this if you want a rooster or birds for meat.
- Straight run = unsexed. You get whatever hatched, usually about half and half.
Pullets (female)
Pullets are young hens. At hatch, our professional sexer checks each chick by the vent sexing method and sorts the females. This is the option most backyard keepers want because hens lay eggs and roosters are often not allowed in town.
Pullets cost the most because sexing takes skilled labor and every male hatched has to go somewhere else. For example, Buff Brahma chicks are $7.49 for a pullet, $5.49 straight run and $4.49 for a cockerel.
About sexing accuracy: Our sexer is accurate more than 90% of the time, but no hatchery can promise 100%. If a "pullet" turns out to be a rooster, report it between 14 and 22 weeks of age (19–30 weeks for Silkies) under our rooster policy.
Straight run (unsexed)
Straight run chicks aren't sorted. In most hatches that works out to roughly half pullets and half cockerels, but any single order can lean either way.
Straight run is a good choice if:
- You're fine raising roosters for meat or rehoming them
- You want a rooster to protect the flock or to hatch your own chicks
- You want the most birds for the money
Our Flock Value Builder (25 chicks) and Surprise Barnyard Mix (15 chicks) bundles are straight run.
Cockerels (male)
Cockerels are young roosters. They're the least expensive option. People buy them for:
- A flock rooster to guard hens and fertilize eggs
- Meat, especially larger dual-purpose breeds like Brahmas
- Show or breeding, for a specific breed line
Check local rules before ordering cockerels. Many towns and HOAs don't allow roosters.
What about sex-link chicks?
Some breeds, like Black Sex Links, are crosses where males and females hatch in different colors. That makes them easy to sex at hatch and very reliable as pullets.
Which should you choose?
| Your goal | Best option |
|---|---|
| Eggs, no roosters allowed | Pullets |
| Eggs plus one rooster | Pullets, plus one cockerel |
| Most birds for the money | Straight run |
| Meat birds | Cockerels or straight run |
| Hatching your own chicks later | Pullets plus a cockerel of the same breed |
Common questions
Can I tell a chick's sex myself? Not reliably at hatch for most breeds. Signs like comb size and behavior show up at a few weeks old but can fool you. Wait until about 14–22 weeks before deciding.
Can I mix pullets, straight run and cockerels in one order? Yes, as long as all the chicks share the same hatch date.
Do roosters and hens get along? Usually, yes. A common guideline is about one rooster for every 8–10 hens to keep the hens from being over-mated.