Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

Oh Lawd, not another one...

My brats have been eating merrily, making their cute little cooing noises or whatever you call it. One big fat BR perches right next to the wire, looking at me and making all these little chirping (not peeping) sounds. It's the one that lets me stroke its back and throat, and if it does peck on occasion, it's so gentle. Some of the others get a little curious and crowd up near me. As long as I don't try to touch them, they're okay. They make sweet little noises while staring at me. When I throw some scratch in there on occasion, the BA likes to eat out of the glass measuring cup, still making these little noises and a few others gather to eat out of the cup.

Anyhoo, This evening I stood there about about 10 minutes or so observing them as I usually do, and then I noticed...one Austra-White is developing a bigger comb and longer tail than the other two, and is a little more vocal, not crowing, just more talkative. I know nothing about this "new" hybrid (BA over Leghorn or vice versa?) and have to go back to the website to read the description and talk to someone about if these are auto-sexing at birth.

All the other hens have tiny combs, but it looks like a third boy may be emerging. That's okay, I didn't want 12 to begin with and can deal with 9 (fewer to fight over three nest boxes), but I over-ordered expecting losses and they ALL survived the shipping. You all know my story.

Bobby the Austra-whites were made from a Black Australorp rooster over a White Leghorn hen, and are NOT an auto-sexing nor are they even a sex-link at birth.

 

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham
Do you have some recent pix of your flock?

I'm awkward using this new cell phone that I have but I'll try to take some pics. The one BA is so big that she looks like she's at point-of-lay.

 

[BlueBaby]

Bobby, Australorp's don't start to lay until they are 5 months old.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Bobby the Austra-whites were made from a Black Australorp rooster over a White Leghorn hen, and are NOT an auto-sexing nor are they even a sex-link at birth.

Thanks BlueBaby, that's what I thought about the crossing.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Bobby, Australorp's don't start to lay until they are 5 months old.

Oops, I meant my Barred Rock. All the others are still rather slender looking things.

 

[BlueBaby]

Oops, I meant my Barred Rock. All the others are still rather slender looking things.

If you can post pictures of them, It's possible that we can tell you if you have anymore secret boys in your batch, even if they haven't crowed yet.

 

[Bobby Basham]

If you can post pictures of them, It's possible that we can tell you if you have anymore secret boys in your batch, even if they haven't crowed yet.

Everyone else has those small pea combs except the new suspect. His comb is growing, not as fast as the RIR, but it's on its way.

 

[BlueBaby]

Everyone else has those small pea combs except the new suspect. His comb is growing, not as fast as the RIR, but it's on its way.

Each breed matures at different rates. Australorps do not have peacombs, they have a single straight comb. You also need to be checking the color and size of the wattles of all of your breeds.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Each breed matures at different rates. Australorps do not have peacombs, they have a single straight comb. You also need to be checking the color and size of the wattles of all of your breeds.

Okay, they all have tiny single straight combs and very small waddles. I couldn't think of a better term at the time. Sorry.

 

[SonoranChick]

@Babycat ranch welcome to the thread! And welcome to Arizona Your eggs are gorgeous, I love a colorful egg carton. We are also in Pinal county, but much further south (actually 5 miles from the Pima county line)...hope everyone got some nice drizzly rain yesterday. It's still cloudy here now, I love it.

We have been busy this week, but we finally made and installed some poop boards under the roost! This has cut my chicken chore time in half, and has made everyone's life so much easier. Now I'm thinking of prepping for the hot summer months to come.