Consolidated Kansas

[TaraBellaBirds]

Miss Rebel Dottie and her new clutch!

 

[chicken danz]

Quote:

Miss Rebel Dottie and her new clutch!

She looks very determined!

My 3.5 wk old BR chicks are really changing fast.

I have 2 like the one on the left (less wing feathering) and the 1 on the right. Is the one on the right the pullet? The difference is dramatic.

Sharol I have no idea. I just hatch all the time and just assumed they grew about the same rate.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Quote:
She looks very determined!

Very much so! She sat for 40+ days to get the first batch of chicks. Which is why it surprised me that she gave up so quickly to the other hen. I want to let her have another shot even though I don't really need anymore mix breed babies right now! I guess this is one way chicken math gets out of hand......the other way is these **** auctions for hatching eggs!!!

It's killing me, there are so many breeds I NEED!

 

[HEChicken]

My 3.5 wk old BR chicks are really changing fast.

I have 2 like the one on the left (less wing feathering) and the 1 on the right. Is the one on the right the pullet? The difference is dramatic.

Based on the feather coloring rather than the size of the chicks, I would say the larger one is a pullet while the one on the left is a cockerel. If you look at them as they are in this view, you can see wide bands of white on the wings of the one on the left, whereas the center one looks darker overall. Is the third one like the one on the left in coloring or only in size/degree of feathering?

OMG, the funniest thing happened tonight. I am puppy sitting for my neighbor and was very pleased that neither the lab/boxer mix or the mini schnauzer went after my free-ranging birds at all. The lab mix did try it last week and was thoroughly told off and tonight she seemed to remember that was a "no". The schnauzer never showed any interest at all. While they were here, I was doing my chores and had to go get a new bag of cat food. By the time I'd opened it, and dished it out to my outside cat, I looked up to realize the sheep were nowhere in sight. I walked all around the house. Gone. I looked out the end of the driveway as they sometimes like to go up there, but didn't see them. Still, I figured since they weren't around the house, they must be up there so I walked to the end of the driveway and that's when I saw them - clear at the house on the other side of my neighbor's! They acted like this is a place they often graze even though they've never been there before. So I approached with my pack of dogs and the two puppies started to run towards them which was chasing them further away. I called them back but at this the sheep decided maybe it was better if they returned home anyway, so they started trotting towards home and that's when it got interesting. The puppies started running after them and the mini schnauzer was barking and the sheep took off for home at a gallop. The puppies chased them all the way back into our yard, then came back to me, tongues lolling, and looking very pleased with themselves. So the pack and I continued walking down the driveway where we found the sheep huddled in a group by the house. I told the puppies "Okay, but let's see if you can actually put them to bed" and I started to herd the sheep towards the pasture and the puppies immediately took off after them again. The sheep headed straight for the pasture gate and ran in! The puppies did not follow - once they were in the pasture, they came back to me for more praise. It was pretty amazing for untrained dogs to do so well!!! Of course it wasn't really a controlled drive - they were just having fun - but I sure did appreciate it since sometimes the sheep don't want to go back in at night and I'm there by myself trying to keep them in a group, headed the right direction with no breakaways while my own two dogs (one of which is half border collie for pete's sake) just watch me with interest as I do THEIR jobs. If my neighbor's dogs are this effective every night, I'll be borrowing them regularly

 

[sharol]

Based on the feather coloring rather than the size of the chicks, I would say the larger one is a pullet while the one on the left is a cockerel. If you look at them as they are in this view, you can see wide bands of white on the wings of the one on the left, whereas the center one looks darker overall. Is the third one like the one on the left in coloring or only in size/degree of feathering?

The 3rd one looks exactly like the one on the left (as you face the picture) -- size, color -- everything. I sure hope you are right. I'd rather have 2 pullets. (no duh). These babies are from Danz's fancy BR's, and if they look anything like their parents, they will be gorgeous.

 

[sharol]

Quote:
She looks very determined!

Sharol I have no idea. I just hatch all the time and just assumed they grew about the same rate.

You know, until I looked at the picture, I didn't realize the one with the faster developing wing feathers was actually larger. The little rascals move so fast (and their mother is so protective -- man, she can bite!) that a really good look is hard to get. If they hadn't been distracted by the cottage cheese, i would never have gotten this picture.

 

[HEChicken]

Well, if I'm right, you have 1 pullet, 2 cockerels

 

[Trish44]

Very much so! She sat for 40+ days to get the first batch of chicks. Which is why it surprised me that she gave up so quickly to the other hen. I want to let her have another shot even though I don't really need anymore mix breed babies right now! I guess this is one way chicken math gets out of hand......the other way is these **** auctions for hatching eggs!!!

It's killing me, there are so many breeds I NEED!

That's a nice looking hen, she does look serious. Haha welcome to chicken math & you know we're all enablers here too.

Based on the feather coloring rather than the size of the chicks, I would say the larger one is a pullet while the one on the left is a cockerel. If you look at them as they are in this view, you can see wide bands of white on the wings of the one on the left, whereas the center one looks darker overall. Is the third one like the one on the left in coloring or only in size/degree of feathering?

OMG, the funniest thing happened tonight. I am puppy sitting for my neighbor and was very pleased that neither the lab/boxer mix or the mini schnauzer went after my free-ranging birds at all. The lab mix did try it last week and was thoroughly told off and tonight she seemed to remember that was a "no". The schnauzer never showed any interest at all. While they were here, I was doing my chores and had to go get a new bag of cat food. By the time I'd opened it, and dished it out to my outside cat, I looked up to realize the sheep were nowhere in sight. I walked all around the house. Gone. I looked out the end of the driveway as they sometimes like to go up there, but didn't see them. Still, I figured since they weren't around the house, they must be up there so I walked to the end of the driveway and that's when I saw them - clear at the house on the other side of my neighbor's! They acted like this is a place they often graze even though they've never been there before. So I approached with my pack of dogs and the two puppies started to run towards them which was chasing them further away. I called them back but at this the sheep decided maybe it was better if they returned home anyway, so they started trotting towards home and that's when it got interesting. The puppies started running after them and the mini schnauzer was barking and the sheep took off for home at a gallop. The puppies chased them all the way back into our yard, then came back to me, tongues lolling, and looking very pleased with themselves. So the pack and I continued walking down the driveway where we found the sheep huddled in a group by the house. I told the puppies "Okay, but let's see if you can actually put them to bed" and I started to herd the sheep towards the pasture and the puppies immediately took off after them again. The sheep headed straight for the pasture gate and ran in! The puppies did not follow - once they were in the pasture, they came back to me for more praise. It was pretty amazing for untrained dogs to do so well!!! Of course it wasn't really a controlled drive - they were just having fun - but I sure did appreciate it since sometimes the sheep don't want to go back in at night and I'm there by myself trying to keep them in a group, headed the right direction with no breakaways while my own two dogs (one of which is half border collie for pete's sake) just watch me with interest as I do THEIR jobs. If my neighbor's dogs are this effective every night, I'll be borrowing them regularly

I agree with HEChicken on the BRs, the pullets always feather out before the cockerels & they're darker as well. The cockerels when they feather out will be lighter than the pullets due to the barring. The cockerels will get taller & really ugly & gangly looking before they feather out, they just look like gangly teenagers if you know what I mean.

That is a funny story HEChicken, too bad your dogs weren't helping but I'm glad the neighbor's pups were helping instead of hindering the herding. I have quite a time every night at time to herd the sheep & goats to their pens. It wouldn't be bad at all because they all go right to their pens when I tell them to, except that the goats act up & start butting the sheep & then it sometimes becomes a free for all. The goats are very territorial & especially the one, Penny is so afraid somebody might get her food that she is a pill. I've tried to get the goats headed down to their pen first since theirs is on beyond the sheep pen, but it doesn't always work that way. I'm always trying to get down that hill out of the way of all of them in case they start butting & shoving so I don't get pushed down. I've taken to hugging next to the BR pen right there so I would have something to grab onto if I need it. Hopefully when we get this fence done & they all start going out in that field to graze every day it won't be so bad because the goats will get to their pen first & I can hurry & shut them in. That should help a lot of that shoving & butting & we won't be going down that hill then either.

It's been a busy day today, I had a Dr. appt. in Wichita & then had some shopping to do afterwards so I didn't get back till time to feed & all of the goats, sheep, & chickens were standing in the driveway waiting to eat when I drove in. The follow-up x-rays today on my leg showed the bone is healed nicely thank goodness & the Dr. prescribed some kind of pain cream that will be mailed to me I guess to help with the soreness I'm still having over that area. I hope I get it all feeling a lot better before winter hits again. It has taken me all this year so far just to try to recover from this injury. I'm going to be petrified this year on ice or snow. I'm glad I got those things to go on my outside shoes for traction.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Based on the feather coloring rather than the size of the chicks, I would say the larger one is a pullet while the one on the left is a cockerel.  If you look at them as they are in this view, you can see wide bands of white on the wings of the one on the left, whereas the center one looks darker overall.  Is the third one like the one on the left in coloring or only in size/degree of feathering?

OMG, the funniest thing happened tonight.  I am puppy sitting for my neighbor and was very pleased that neither the lab/boxer mix or the mini schnauzer went after my free-ranging birds at all.  The lab mix did try it last week and was thoroughly told off and tonight she seemed to remember that was a "no".  The schnauzer never showed any interest at all.  While they were here, I was doing my chores and had to go get a new bag of cat food.  By the time I'd opened it, and dished it out to my outside cat, I looked up to realize the sheep were nowhere in sight.  I walked all around the house. Gone.  I looked out the end of the driveway as they sometimes like to go up there, but didn't see them.  Still, I figured since they weren't around the house, they must be up there so I walked to the end of the driveway and that's when I saw them - clear at the house on the other side of my neighbor's!  They acted like this is a place they often graze even though they've never been there before. So I approached with my pack of dogs and the two puppies started to run towards them which was chasing them further away.  I called them back but at this the sheep decided maybe it was better if they returned home anyway, so they started trotting towards home and that's when it got interesting.  The puppies started running after them and the mini schnauzer was barking and the sheep took off for home at a gallop.  The puppies chased them all the way back into our yard, then came back to me, tongues lolling, and looking very pleased with themselves.  So the pack and I continued walking down the driveway where we found the sheep huddled in a group by the house.  I told the puppies "Okay, but let's see if you can actually put them to bed" and I started to herd the sheep towards the pasture and the puppies immediately took off after them again.  The sheep headed straight for the pasture gate and ran in!  The puppies did not follow - once they were in the pasture, they came back to me for more praise.  It was pretty amazing for untrained dogs to do so well!!!  Of course it wasn't really a controlled drive - they were just having fun - but I sure did appreciate it since sometimes the sheep don't want to go back in at night and I'm there by myself trying to keep them in a group, headed the right direction with no breakaways while my own two dogs (one of which is half border collie for pete's sake) just watch me with interest as I do THEIR jobs.  If my neighbor's dogs are this effective every night, I'll be borrowing them regularly   

that's hilarious!!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

OMG, the funniest thing happened tonight. I am puppy sitting for my neighbor and was very pleased that neither the lab/boxer mix or the mini schnauzer went after my free-ranging birds at all. The lab mix did try it last week and was thoroughly told off and tonight she seemed to remember that was a "no". The schnauzer never showed any interest at all. While they were here, I was doing my chores and had to go get a new bag of cat food. By the time I'd opened it, and dished it out to my outside cat, I looked up to realize the sheep were nowhere in sight. I walked all around the house. Gone. I looked out the end of the driveway as they sometimes like to go up there, but didn't see them. Still, I figured since they weren't around the house, they must be up there so I walked to the end of the driveway and that's when I saw them - clear at the house on the other side of my neighbor's! They acted like this is a place they often graze even though they've never been there before. So I approached with my pack of dogs and the two puppies started to run towards them which was chasing them further away. I called them back but at this the sheep decided maybe it was better if they returned home anyway, so they started trotting towards home and that's when it got interesting. The puppies started running after them and the mini schnauzer was barking and the sheep took off for home at a gallop. The puppies chased them all the way back into our yard, then came back to me, tongues lolling, and looking very pleased with themselves. So the pack and I continued walking down the driveway where we found the sheep huddled in a group by the house. I told the puppies "Okay, but let's see if you can actually put them to bed" and I started to herd the sheep towards the pasture and the puppies immediately took off after them again. The sheep headed straight for the pasture gate and ran in! The puppies did not follow - once they were in the pasture, they came back to me for more praise. It was pretty amazing for untrained dogs to do so well!!! Of course it wasn't really a controlled drive - they were just having fun - but I sure did appreciate it since sometimes the sheep don't want to go back in at night and I'm there by myself trying to keep them in a group, headed the right direction with no breakaways while my own two dogs (one of which is half border collie for pete's sake) just watch me with interest as I do THEIR jobs. If my neighbor's dogs are this effective every night, I'll be borrowing them regularly

That is awesome. Sounds like they are naturals!