Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

I need help with this chicken. (S)he is 13 weeks old, has a single pea comb. About the same size as his/her two brothers. I've thought all along that it was a pullet, but the color on the wings has me a little concerned. (S)he is a Marans/EE cross (hence the pea comb).

 

[Trish44]

sharol that bird looks like it's developing saddle feathers, so in that case it's a cockerel. Yeah it's really hard on the birds with peacombs to tell till they either get saddle feathers or crow.

I've been on the go all day & am not done yet. I had to go to Wichita for shopping day & then as soon as I got back from there had to get back in the car & drive to Ark City for other errands. I'm just done with chores so I'm headed out again to the Walmart.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I need help with this chicken. (S)he is 13 weeks old, has a single pea comb. About the same size as his/her two brothers. I've thought all along that it was a pullet, but the color on the wings has me a little concerned. (S)he is a Marans/EE cross (hence the pea comb).





Sorry but definite roo!

 

[sharol]

Yeah, I know. I've been in denial for about 3 weeks. 3 chicks. 3 boys. Oh well, I didn't name him so it won't be that hard to send him to freezer camp in a few more weeks.

Dang. He looked like a girl until a couple of weeks ago when those bright feathers started showing up.

 

[Trish44]

sharol, I had the most roosters hatch this year than ever, I have said it was the year of the rooster for me for sure. I had one lavender Ameraucana I thought was a pullet for months before she turned into a he. The ones with peacombs are just hard because you don't have the bigger comb to show you what they are early on.

I've got to get out there today & put the wire over the chained link so it safer to put my birds in there. I got the cover for the top yesterday too, so I can put that up as well. I hope to start working on painting my breeder coop this weekend.

 

[Trish44]

I was still working on my pen this afternoon till almost dark. Tomorrow I have to put the feed trough, dog igloo, & nest box in there & then I can move the birds in. Yipee, one more thing I can cross off my list!

 

[chicken danz]

Sharol I'm afraid that is a cockerel as well. Have you checked the shape of the feathers?
I spent most of my afternoon building a cabinet along side my sink stand I built the day before. I got all done other than putting the outside wood on and of course finishing the wood if I decide to do that. I have it cut just not attached. I was going to mount doors on it but I think I've changed my mind and will probably just leave it open. I got to thinking a door might just be in the way. I'll just have some chicken stuff in there anyway.
I had to change my plans on how to do the faucet cause I can't mount it to the cabinet as I had hoped, so it will go on the other side on a little jut out I make for it.
I'm certainly not making progress as I hoped.

 

[sharol]

Sharol I'm afraid that is a cockerel as well. Have you checked the shape of the feathers?

they look round to me, but every day those saddle feathers become more noticeable.

I need to think of that in a positive way. I really don't have room for many more layers, so maybe a freezer eagle is better.

 

[zigzag45]

My broody is a week into setting on her new eggs. Sadly, if the first batch had taken, she'd be done today. This morning we found an egg outside the nest. I assume that means she rejected it and it needs to go away.

I've been pondering the feeding process once the eggs begin hatching (hoping at least a few hatch!). The chick creeper makes sense. I think I'm going to try and build one. I wish I was as handy as some of you. I want it to be adjustable so the outer block/gate that the chicks go under can be raised over time. I think I need to just go out to the garage, round up some scrap lumber, and start screwing things together. Then, I need to make sure that the main food in the coop is too tall for them to reach.

I also suspect I need to put some thought into making sure the coop is chick accessible, meaning access to/from the outside is something they can reach. Anything else I should be thinking about? I've never had babies in with adults before....

 

[chicken danz]

Sharol I guess you can let the bird grow some more. It's going to be apparent at some point, right? I had one I was sure was a pullet as well but I am doubting it now. I'm going to gather up some of my excess cockerels and take them to town tomorrow for Chinese cuisine. I just have to quit feeding so many birds. Makes me sad when they are good birds but what else can I do?
It was a very busy day for me today. I spent my day actually gardening after working in the building for an hour or so. I feel like I am beaten up!!!