4 youngsters to add to crew

[Th55]

picked these up chicks 3 days ago to add to my crew.
Hoping they barred rock, but IDK. Thought they was all hens but after reading up on here I’m pretty sure 3 hens and a roo. Not sure what king red roo gonna think about him.

Also wondering what little blackie is? She is an egg laying machine for sure. Turned broody again yesterday. For the last month or so she quit laying in the coop and commandeered a folding chair out in the gazebo for laying.
Last night picked her up in the chair and transported her in the coop, so far she,s staying with the chair. She had a bad experience in coop Couple months ago with a snake, got 2 bitties and 10 + eggs

 

[sylviethecochin]

The pale one is very likely a cockerel—I'd guess he's some sort of sexlink, rather than any particular breed.

As for the others, I'd like to see pictures that include the combs. And the girl in front has grey legs, which are not a Barred Rock trait.

As for the black hen, I'd like a better picture. From the tail alone, I'm thinking cochin, but I think I might see some sort of crest, so maybe barnyard mix?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

agree with everything @sylviethecochin said. Took the words right out of my beak.

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Blackie looks like a cochin/silkie cross to me (silkie because her skin's a bit darker and she seems to have a crest - does she have five toes?). Though neither of those breeds is supposed to be a heavy layer, so perhaps I'm wrong. Love the story of her and her chair! And glad you included it in the pic

Your new ones look to be either BR or BR crosses (or another barred breed cross). And yep, I only see the one rooster right now. Though the others look smaller than him, so it's possible they're younger and their roo traits have yet to develop.

 

[Th55]

Never heard of 5 toes?
I'll try to look tomorrow, I'm curious about that.
I'll have to upset her to look, she's quite fiesty / defensive in her chair.
She sat all day the first day I noticed her on no egg, not sure if she layed one yesterday, I was more concerned about her staying in the coop to lay again.

Just hit me about the chair, would this not be a good place to let her stay to hatch due to the bottom not being insulated? It is padded but wondering if would cool off on underside at might. Shouldn't get below 70 at night next couple months tho.

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Yep, a few breeds (like silkies and faverolles) have five toes. Even if she is part silkie, she may have not inherited a fifth toe (my faverolles cross did, though, so it seems like a dominant trait genetically). But if it is there, then I'd say that points strongly to silkie heritage!

Hm, good question about the chair. I've never had a hen incubate on one of those, but I think you're right that she wouldn't be able to keep the bottoms of the eggs warm as easily. Maybe adding some straw or something on her chair would help?

 

[Th55]

Ole broody was out of her chair this am when I got home and no eggs there. Caught her back at gazebo looking for her chair at the old spot, hope she don’t find some place in a thicket to nest where I can’t find her.

I did let the little ones out for a couple hours when I got home to see how the herd reacted.
Those little buggers are quick, the bigger ones couldn’t hardly get close to them so I’m thinking they will integrate to the group well.

They had a large time running around everywhere in the coop a few made dashes outside with me until a mature bird got near then they were back in the coop.

Was also worried about catching them to get them back in the pen but when I pulled out my cheese bowl and rattle I had their undivided attention, two of them even tried to fly back up in the cage to get to the cheese cup.