First timer - do my chickens look fat? Skinny? Boyish? Girly? Breed?

[lmpeebles]

Hello All,
I'm a new BYC member and chicken flock herder (with three ducks thrown in!). 13 chicks and 3 ducks - all 9 weeks old today! I ordered 4 ducks and 5 chicks but they sent me 4 ducks and 14 chicks. lost one duckie the first day and one chickie in the first week

I ordered a "straight run" and breed-wise they were Hatchery's Pick, so I have no idea what any of them are! Care to make any guesses on breed and/or gender? I think the all black duck is a Cayuga...that's about all I got.

Also, I'm still sorting out a lot of things, including the coop and feed, and they always come running at me for treats so I worry they aren't getting enough food. but at the same time, anymore feed and they'll eat me out of house and home! So...do they look like they're about the right size for 9 wks?

These are pics of them eating some spent grain from a local brewery as a treat. They seem pretty stoked about it. I tell ya, I am totally in love with my babies! I wish I didn't have to work during the day so I could just watch them. They don't even do that much but it's completely fascinating and makes me so happy!



1) The black one in the front is Peeta. I nursed her back to health from a riboflavin deficiency in the 2nd week or so

so she better be a friggin' girl!


2) This is Lady - she's by far the most independent. She's gotta be a hen, right??"



3) This is Toupée, a Crested ____


4) Bubbles' butt. Loudest duck. White breast, a little bit of blue and green iridescence coming in on the wings, with white tips.

5) Bubbles up close, covered in spent grain. Boy or girl, I love him!


6) No name. I'm especially curious about the black ones and the one that looks like a peregrine falcon.


7) No name yet.


8) Another without a name.

 

[hennible]

They don't look fat, it's crazy how much they eat while growing. They lol like Easter riggers or mix breeds to me but I'm still learning my breeds for help with breed and gender you will need better pictures...

 

[hennible]

#8 has pointy looking hackle feathers so leaning towards rooster

 

[hennible]

Ok handy threads for you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/944086/the-big-fat-is-this-a-rooster-thread
There is also a section totally dedicated to sexing and helping you figure out breeds
Called " what breed or gender is this "
And here's the learning centre
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
And the duck thread and treat list
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/737292/the-duck-thread/4050#post_14609533

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements

Welcome to BYC

 

[lmpeebles]

Thanks hennible! Here's a few more pics. A lot of mine look like mutts to me, but thought if an expert wanted to weigh in! I certainly hope I have some easter eggers! I'd like to have a neat mixture of egg colors.


Pic 9


Pic 10


Pic 11


Pic 12 No name


Pic 13 No name


Pic 14 No name



Pic 15 Polka


Pic 16 No name


Pic 17 Foghorn. He's massive.

 

[hennible]

I am pretty sure foghorn and polka our male, polka look like a barred cock or black sex link... Most of them look like Easter egger hens or hatchery quality Amerucanas... You're probably going to have some lovely green eggs.

 

[hennible]

Leg color is a good indicator of the EEs they should be sort of green or maybe gray

 

[BantamLover21]

Peeta looks like a pullet, but I'm not sure about breed. Maybe a Black Sex-link.
1) The black one in the front is Peeta. I nursed her back to health from a riboflavin deficiency in the 2nd week or so

so she better be a friggin' girl!

Pullet, probably a Production Red (hatchery Rhode Island Red)
2) This is Lady - she's by far the most independent. She's gotta be a hen, right??"


Does Toupee have white on his/her chest? If so, then it is probably a crested Blue Swedish duck. Otherwise, it may just be a Blue Crested duck. Can't tell gender right now.
3) This is Toupée, a Crested ____


4) Bubbles' butt. Loudest duck. White breast, a little bit of blue and green iridescence coming in on the wings, with white tips. Black Swedish duck. Probably a female (known as a duck or duck hen), since they are usually much louder than the males.


6) No name. I'm especially curious about the black ones and the one that looks like a peregrine falcon. The black ones actually look more blue than black, but that might just be because the camera washed the color out. They look like pullets, but I'm not sure on breed. The white bird and the red/black bird right behind it are Easter Egger cockerels. The brown/red bird in the middle looks like a New Hampshire Red or Production Red, possibly a pullet. The bird in the far back right is an Easter Egger, and I'm leaning towards pullet on it. The red bird behind the right black bird is a pullet, but I'm not sure on breed.

Easter Egger, probably a cockerel based on red patches on wings.
7) No name yet.

Easter Egger cockerel.
8) Another without a name.

Thanks hennible! Here's a few more pics. A lot of mine look like mutts to me, but thought if an expert wanted to weigh in! I certainly hope I have some easter eggers! I'd like to have a neat mixture of egg colors.

Easter Egger pullet.
Pic 9

Easter Egger, probably a pullet.
Pic 10

Easter Egger, not 100% sure on gender, but thinking pullet.
Pic 11

Easter Egger pullet.
Pic 12 No name

Bird on left: Easter Egger pullet. Bird on right: Production Red or New Hampshire cockerel.
Pic 13 No name

New Hampshire/Production Red cockerel.
Pic 14 No name


Barred Plymouth Rock cockerel.
Pic 15 Polka

Not sure on breed, but is a pullet.
Pic 16 No name

Probably a pullet; breed is either White Rock or possibly a Cornish Cross.
Pic 17 Foghorn. He's massive.

 

[lmpeebles]

Yay, thanks BantamLover21! Glad to see there are some pullets in the mix. My husband was trying to get a rise out of me by suggesting that since I ordered the straight run, they're all probably roosters because the hatchery sells all the girls to those who specifically order them, and suckers like me get the rest! That would be the worst!

 

[Wyandottes7]

I agree with Bantamlover21's guesses.