Currawong Farm
Chirping
- Sep 12, 2023
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I have a Blue Australorp hen that has been raising 5 babies, the first of which hatched on Christmas Day, so they are all between 9 & 10 weeks old now (Mar 2024). The father of all was a Blue Australorp rooster but the babies aren't all hers - I think 2 are, 3 were eggs from either a Rhode Island Red hen or RIR/Leghorn cross. I was fairly confident that 3 of the chicks are hens and one is a rooster, but wasn't sure about the 5th. In the last day or so, the Mama has suddenly started aggressively chasing away the one that I was certain was a rooster, but is happy to let the others gather around. The poor little boy is NOT allowed near the rest of the group or Mama goes for him. Can I assume from this that the one I wasn't certain about is a girl, otherwise she would be getting kicked out with the other boy?
Here is a breakdown of the chicks and why I think (guess) they are what they are: 1 x classic Blue Australorp colouring, looks like the spitting image of her mother, no sign of tail feathers growing yet. I am assuming this is pure Blue Australorp and is a hen. 1 x black chick with iridescent purple/green feathers, starting to grow tail feathers. This is the boy and I am figuring another pure Blue Australorp as the Blues can still throw Black, when "pure" bred. 1 x white chick with a few black spots, no tail feathers. I am assuming hen with Blue Australorp father and RIR/Leghorn cross mother. The last two are both a very light soft grey with slightly darker heads, no tail feathers. One is significantly larger than all the other chicks and is the one I was doubtful about, mostly due to its size. I had it pegged as a rooster until recently when the black started sprouting tail feathers and the light grey didn't. I am now wondering if the Mama hen's behaviour is diagnostic of this just being a big girl - thoughts?
PS: Should I move the boy in with my other two hens (kept separately), or just mix the whole flock back together? I have just realised (from reading other threads on this forum) that all the chicks are big enough to merge the flocks now.
Here is a breakdown of the chicks and why I think (guess) they are what they are: 1 x classic Blue Australorp colouring, looks like the spitting image of her mother, no sign of tail feathers growing yet. I am assuming this is pure Blue Australorp and is a hen. 1 x black chick with iridescent purple/green feathers, starting to grow tail feathers. This is the boy and I am figuring another pure Blue Australorp as the Blues can still throw Black, when "pure" bred. 1 x white chick with a few black spots, no tail feathers. I am assuming hen with Blue Australorp father and RIR/Leghorn cross mother. The last two are both a very light soft grey with slightly darker heads, no tail feathers. One is significantly larger than all the other chicks and is the one I was doubtful about, mostly due to its size. I had it pegged as a rooster until recently when the black started sprouting tail feathers and the light grey didn't. I am now wondering if the Mama hen's behaviour is diagnostic of this just being a big girl - thoughts?
PS: Should I move the boy in with my other two hens (kept separately), or just mix the whole flock back together? I have just realised (from reading other threads on this forum) that all the chicks are big enough to merge the flocks now.