Bresse Chickens

[ronott1]

Well, I had something happen yesterday that I've never had before. One of my Bresse eggs hatched out a chick with feathered legs! The legs were darker than the Bresse are at hatch too. They are in a breeding pen, but I did catch one of my hens in the adjoining pen with other hens and capons that were mixed Marans/Orpington. She had crossed a 12 foot high oak wall that separated horse stalls in another life. So, I am betting the one that occasionally tried to breed the hens was a slip. I didn't find any sign of regenerated testicle when I butchered them Memorial Day weekend. Must have overlooked it. It will be interesting to watch it grow out, though....1/2 Bresse, 1/4 Lavender Orpington, 1/4 Black Copper Marans.

What an amazing adventure Your Hen as been on!

Crazy teenagers anyway....Sneaking out for a bit of illicit love?

 

[BCMaraniac]

@ronott1 I edited my post to show a photo.

 

[BCMaraniac]

What an amazing adventure Your Hen as been on!

Crazy teenagers anyway....Sneaking out for a bit of illicit love?

I'll say illicit......there wasn't supposed to be any testosterone in the adjoining pen. At least it wasn't my big fella.

 

[LindaB220]

Well, I had something happen yesterday that I've never had before. One of my Bresse eggs hatched out a chick with feathered legs! The legs were darker than the Bresse are at hatch too. They are in a breeding pen, but I did catch one of my hens in the adjoining pen with other hens and capons that were mixed Marans/Orpington. She had crossed a 12 foot high oak wall that separated horse stalls in another life. So, I am betting the one that occasionally tried to breed the hens was a slip. I didn't find any sign of regenerated testicle when I butchered them Memorial Day weekend. Must have overlooked it. It will be interesting to watch it grow out, though....1/2 Bresse, 1/4 Lavender Orpington, 1/4 Black Copper Marans.



@islandgirl348 Here is a chick that is not quite a week old:



Here is a chick not quite 2 weeks. You can see they are starting to change colors:

That should be interesting. You had such luck with your mix of Lav orp and marans. Keep us informed.

 

[BCMaraniac]

What an amazing adventure Your Hen as been on!

Crazy teenagers anyway....Sneaking out for a bit of illicit love?

I sure am glad that I wasn't selling eggs. We had already decided that we were going to put up a piece of welded wire fence above the oak wall. At least that pen is a maternity ward now.....but the rooster roosts on the top of that wall, then crosses over to visit the ladies in waiting. They don't look particularly amused with his interest.

 

[flowerchild59]

I am trying to decide if these are all males. What do you think?????????? They are beefy with huge legs.

At least the roses keep them occupied with a good view. They complain about their digs all the time.

 

[Pinkaboo]

e they are all males. What do you think? I am trying to decide if these are all males. What do you think?????????? They are beefy with huge legs.

How old are they? Mine are only two weeks and the biggest is looking rooish, big legs and tail!

 

[flowerchild59]

How old are they? Mine are only two weeks and the biggest is looking rooish, big legs and tail!

These birds were hatched out around the first of april, so they are about 11 weeks old. I haven't weighed them. I am curious though.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I am trying to decide if these are all males. What do you think?????????? They are beefy with huge legs.

At least the roses keep them occupied with a good view. They complain about their digs all the time.

One is definitely a cockerel. The other one appears to have a bit less comb, but more than an 11 week old pullet. So, I would say 2 cockerels.

 

[Pinkaboo]

These birds were hatched out around the first of april, so they are about 11 weeks old.  I haven't weighed them.  I am  curious though.

Did you just hatch 2?
I put 6 eggs in and got 4
I've just ordered another 30 eggs
I think they are beautiful, I heard you get higher hen/ roo ratio with bresse