DCH Itty Bitty Flock

[Dandelion and Clover]

Another check in.

Tootsie the red one is confusing us. The single darker tail feather, maybe saddle feathers - I swear they change back & forth just to mess with us.

That tail & stance are screaming Cockerel.

Sickle feather or just adult coloring. Ugh.

No super obvious saddle feathers that I could find.

Such a judgy face.

 

[ella2025]

Another check in.

Tootsie the red one is confusing us. The single darker tail feather, maybe saddle feathers - I swear they change back & forth just to mess with us.

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That tail & stance are screaming Cockerel.
View attachment 4207301
Sickle feather or just adult coloring. Ugh.
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No super obvious saddle feathers that I could find.
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Such a judgy face.
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Sorry! Looks like Tootsie is a Cockerel!

 

[Dandelion and Clover]

Snickers makes a raspy noise I assume is a early crow. Assumed Cockerel for awhile now.

Is the blue/green/incandescent feathers on wings male coloring? So pretty.

 

[Dandelion and Clover]

Sorry! Looks like Tootsie is a Cockerel!

I assumed but wanted some pros to weigh in.

4 of 4 Cockerels. My Bantam Luck!

 

[ella2025]

Snickers makes a raspy noise I assume is a early crow. Assumed Cockerel for awhile now.

Is the blue/green/incandescent feathers on wings male coloring? So pretty.
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I'm pretty sure black shiny feathers aren't a male only trait. Many hens have super shiny greenish purple feathers, like my Billy. I think the dark red colors near the shoulders and saddle are male coloring and also he has saddle feathers.

 

[Dandelion and Clover]

Just some pictures of the other 2. For reference if anyone else has my bad bantam luck.

Twix has very obvious saddle feathers. His neck is starting to redden up.

Reeses has moved in with our blind Speckled Sussex. (I changed water one night when putting them to bed and forgot to shut the coop. Our beautiful Millie Fleur Roo has disappeared. I'm pretending he saved his girl and fought, ending in a valiant and noble death. Unlikely because he was a coward.)
My beautiful big girls photo bombing... Mostly wanting me to let them out.

 

[Dandelion and Clover]

Twix has officially crowed. No surprise... His neck has slowly been redding up. Those saddle feathers came in beautifully.

They are all such good looking birds, so bummed I got 4 outta 4 boys this time.

 

[Dandelion and Clover]

Twix and Snickers are gone.

Of the 5 chicks my chicken lady set back for me, only 2 pullets. So, we swapped them out on Monday.

We have been in the look don't touch stage. Ozzy was very excited about new lady friends. Lots of fancy dancing. Kit was very vocal, I think she was telling those new girls that is her man. Tootsie was mostly indifferent but a little curious.

Today, we had supervised free range time. Ozzy danced and tried to mate. Tootsie did some pecking order then possibly tried to mount. Kit made sure they knew she was queen but wasn't too much of a bully.

I'm not overly worried about spreading any sickness/disease since they all came from the same place. We treated for mites, historically we've seen them but not on these girls.

Continuing on with our candy theme they will be named Pixie and Dot.

My chicken lady said she had some surprise chicks so once momma has let them go and we have a better guess at gender, I may try to swap out Tootsie and get another lady (we will keep Reeses he's a good boy, for now, and is keeping our blind girl company).