An update on my broody hen and her chicks

[BlueEyes51]

I have several questions and an update on my "broody" hen and her chicks.

To start with, my broody hen never did get fully accepted back into the flock. Mainly because of a couple bully-hens... both the silver laced wyandotte. She is doing quite well otherwise, but I am concerned about her. It seems she has gone broody already again. Is that normal? It's only been 12 weeks since she hatch the chicks. Can I let her go ahead and set on eggs again without stressing her too much?

As for the three chicks... now pullets... Orphan Annie was totally accepted by the other two. They are all getting big and I am wondering when I can start integrating them in with the main flock? They are about 12 weeks now.

I am pretty sure the chicks are all pullets. My white and black one tho, I am not sure about. Would love help figuring out if they are, or if I may have a roo? Or is it too soon to tell?

Here are the three pullets(?) all grown up... left to right:
Dynamo... I named her/him that because of how smart and agile she/he was when Dynamo was real tiny. Someone in a fb group did say that Dynamo was a pullet. Buffy... I am sure is a pullet. And Orphan Annie... I am a little on the fence with her/him also.

btw... the youngsters are in the pen I built so my broody hen could safely raise her hatched chicks without loosing them to a predator again. If I do let Momma hen hatch eggs, I will need that pen for her again.

If need be, I can post closeups of each youngster later today or tonight (PDT).

Thanks ahead of time!

 

[azygous]

Closeups would be helpful. I've been straining my eyes to try to see any pointy saddle feathers and neck feathers. Also, by 12 weeks you should be seeing sickle feathers shooting out from the tail feathers if you have any cockerels. When you add the file, please select full size next to the image. That way we can see it magnified to its max.

You shouldn't wait to introduce them to the flock. Make sure they have plenty of space to outrun any bullies. I like to provide a special feeding and watering station for youngsters on a platform such as a card table to insure they have enough to eat and aren't bullied away from these essentials.

 

[azygous]

That's a technical question that I can't answer. You should be able to get your answer here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-attachments-images-to-the-new-byc.1174493/

 

[BlueEyes51]

Okay... here are larger photos (800dpi) of Dynamo and Annie... I can go bigger if need be.
I would be a very happy camper if neither is a roo!

 

[BlueEyes51]

That's a technical question that I can't answer. You should be able to get your answer here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-attachments-images-to-the-new-byc.1174493/

I figured it out, and deleted that comment.

 

[azygous]

Spectacularly gorgeous pullets.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Your silver one i an ee/slw mix green legs of that is pullets as its sexlink I have one like her exactly heres my as a younger and an adult mine also has green legs

 

[BlueEyes51]

Spectacularly gorgeous pullets.

So you think they are BOTH pullets! Yeah!! I so hope so!!

I just love the coloring of Dynamo... and was so hoping she was a pullet. Have no idea how she got her coloring! Here's her (real) daddy and momma.

The hen pictured is a silver laced wyandotte (one of the bullies) and have no clue what the roo is... he was given to me after I lost my Americauna roo... do you know?

 

[BlueEyes51]

So now that it is pretty much settled that Dynamo and Annie are both pullets!

Should I just sneak the pullets in with the flock at night now, or wait until they can start eating layer feed? I heard they need to be fed the grow until they start laying... is that wrong? If not, how do you feed them the grow without them eating the layer, and visa versa with the layer hens, if they are in with the flock?

I worry about the 2 bullies picking on the youngsters... the 2 silver laced wyandottes. They are still picking on the three hens I introduced last year. I am now tempted to get rid of them.

My setup. I have a open top (for now) pen for the flock, with a critter proof coop that I lock up at night. Then, I have a dog door in the fence, which I close at night also, that goes out to a little over an 1/8 acre of lawn surrounded by a 6' fence that I gave them so they can free range. I keep all their feed and water in the pen for them.

Their coop itself, tho, is only 4' wide x 8' long x 6' at the peak, has 3 nesting boxes and is about 3' off the ground so they can get under it for shade or for when it rains. I am wondering now if my coop will be big enough coop for the roo and 9 hens?

 

[BlueEyes51]

Your silver one i an ee/slw mix green legs of that is pullets as its sexlink I have one like her exactly heres my as a younger and an adult mine also has green legs
View attachment 1128825 View attachment 1128826

Yes, yours and my little dynamo do look alike! Wow!
So how did Dynamo get green legs when the roo and (real) momma have yellow. I'm confused. Maybe I am mistaken and the silver laced wyandotte does have green legs also... I will have to go look.