Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I got a 3 month PFM!! YAAAAY! Now what do I make my custom title?

Something Discworld ish.

 

[Sylvester017]

I need to remember that on here, it's not really like having a conversation, so things are out of context by the time they are read. I'm not a social media person at all. This is the only one I'm on. I need to remember to be more specific when I speak. lol

You and me both. I end up missing a lot of context for things

I know what you guYs mean...say too little someone misunderstands...say too much...someone takes it as preachy. But most of us don't take offense on here TG! Love this thread

 

[rural mouse]

Oh, no I didn't mean they look the same. Mine are definitely Australorps. I was speaking of the size. They were so tiny when we got them. In fact, we were there when they arrived from the hatchery. I've never picked up chicks from a farm store that small before. I have hatched them before, and these look like day olds to me, based on that experience. Mine are all black with white on their tummies, which will go away with feathering. One of mine has very little of the white. Maybe she will be blacker?

I've had australorps feather out with some white mixed in. The 12 week adult feather moult loses it.

 

[TOMTE]

Something Discworld ish.

The fact that I didn't think of that... Where is my brain today? Where am I?

 

[rural mouse]

If your chicks have no white headspot then your black & white chickies are Australorp or some other all black breed. A white headspot usually is an auto sex feature on barred/cuckoo breeds only.
Edit: SHRA
View attachment 4066680

That's only true if BOTH parents are barred. If only the roo is barred (or is single barred) the head spot is the same size regardless of gender. The large head spot on roos is due to being double barred so he looks like he's white with black stripes.

 

[ValerieJ]

I've had australorps feather out with some white mixed in. The 12 week adult feather moult loses it.

I've only ever had 3, and they are such beautiful, docile hens. I don't remember if they initially had some white feathers. They are all black now. But, they are 8 years old now and I will miss them so much when they are gone, so that's why I went with Australorps this time. I normally would lean toward Buff Orpingtons. I'm not very adventurous here. We live in a rain forest, and these two breeds have been the healthiest in these conditions.

 

[rural mouse]

BSL roos are barred, which is why the male chicks have a white spot on the head, right?

They're single barred so only have 1 copy of the barring from their mother. The BSL females don't get the barring so the not barred father gives both chicks a not barred gene, leaving only the males with a barred gene. They're black with white stripes just like a female Dominique or Rock.

 

[Sylvester017]

BSL roos are barred, which is why the male chicks have a white spot on the head, right?

The males are usually lighter in color or have larger white head spots than the females

Just about any crossbreed bird w/a barred/cuckoo cross will be auto-sexed.

Cackle Hatchery list of auto-sexing breeds with chick color descriptions:
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/22-autosex-breeds-of-chickens-and-geese/

 

[Sylvester017]

I'm going to be checking for more/watching closely when finishing the cleanout on Sunday. I don't like them laying eggs that big.

My feelings exactly too. I hope that's just a one-time occurrence for you. I also worry when a Silkie egg looks too big for the size of the hen. So far so good w/ the newest Silkies ~ but DH & I are chicken helicopter parents so we worry about everything w/them.

 

[Sylvester017]

That's only true if BOTH parents are barred. If only the roo is barred (or is single barred) the head spot is the same size regardless of gender. The large head spot on roos is due to being double barred so he looks like he's white with black stripes.

Yep, you go into more detail Thx