new chicken and her chicks *PICS*

chshafer

In the Brooder
9 Years
Jul 11, 2010
24
1
24
PA
I recently got a new hen who came with 4 chicks. I was told she's a "farm variety" hen. I asked what she could be mixed with but didnt really get an answer, just that she is a good layer of white eggs. she has not laid for me yet since she has her chicks, so i dont know for sure. For the first week she attacked me any time I got too close to change their food/water but eventually she warmed up to me and i managed to get my first pictures of the little family. it was a really bright day so the contrast/color isnt quite right but I was glad she was tolerating me so close to her chicks. I have no idea what breeds the chicks are crosses of so I very excited to see how they turn out.



i've had the rooster for several months. he's about 8 months old now and is taking his new job as a father very seriously. he is very quick to alert the hen to possible trouble and would join in the attacks to protect the little ones.



Mom reminds me of easter eggers i've had previously but the farmer told me she lays white eggs. regardless, i think shes pretty and she's an excellent mom, which is really more important.



There are four chicks, all slightly different. 3 of them are black and one is yellow/brown striped. their feathers are starting to come in but they mostly just have wings feathers are this point, and two of them have leg feathers as well.



This is the only yellow chick. it has yellow beak and legs. its feathers are coming in with very pretty. i cant wait to see what it's adult feathers will look like.



this little one is interesting with its black fluff and a yellow beak/legs and yellow around its eyes. its the only chick that has a light spot on its head and has quite a covering of fluff on its legs. I cant wait to see if it keeps the light edging on its feathers.

the last two chicks are very similar. they are both black with dark beak/legs but one has a thin row of feathers down its legs.

you can just barely see the feathers along its legs.


i'll continue adding pictures as the little ones grow. if any one has any ideas what breeds these little guys and their mom are i'd love to hear them. (incase you were wondering the roo is a black orpington rooster crossed with a spanish hen)
 
beautiful family...definitely see some EE in them, feather legging could mean there is possible a bit of Cochin as well.
EE's can lay any color of egg and cary the blue egg gene that can pop out anywhere in their family tree.

I love mixed chickies as they are hardy and cool looking.
 
Great family .. I Love letting my Free range chickens mingle then when I do hatch some of their Eggs I wait for the Surprise ! Though many come out looking like Barred Rocks as My BR Rooster seems to be the Stud in the house ; )
 
Who knows what her ancestry is? Maybe a touch of game hen with her tenacity to defend her chicks. But she looks healthy, her chicks are healthy, so she's a winner in my book! Beautiful photos!
 
Great pictures. That rooster is gorgeous! It's wonderful to hear that he's a good daddy, too. I would guess that your hen has some EE in her, going by her coloration.
 
i finally got some usable pictures of the chicks again. i've tried repeatedly and they are extremely uncooperative. the rooster is very good a staying between me and chicks and they move so quickly! the chicks are about 8-9 wks old now. im fairly confident one of the black chicks is a roo and the other is a pullet. it could go either way on the others but they just recently got pink combs and they are very interested in hopping at each other and chest bumping. none of them have especially pointy feathers, but again, its hard to get a good look at them.

heres a not-so-great pic of mom and the babies. you can see little pink combs on the three less blurry chicks, the one that blurred bad is the one im fairly confident is a pullet. this is the only decent picture i have of the little yellow chick. it a more mottled version of its mother and has a small pink comb. it had an incident with its leg a few weeks back and still has a little bit of a limp but generally does just fine.


the adorable black chick with yellow turned into a very neat black/white chicken. this ones comb just started to pink and its legs are covered in lots and lots of feathers. fingers crossed it turns out a pullet....


the black chicks still look pretty similar, except for the comb/wattles. the one on the left started getting pink sooner than the other chicks so i think it may be a roo, im not sure. the one on the right reminds me of a roadrunner with her funny crest. she has no notable comb and is less involved in the displaying/chest bumping.


i'm trying to just enjoy them and not stress about their sex at this point. its been fun watching them grow.
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