Found my first chicken. What is he?

[pdsavage]

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I've been reading about sexing chickens. I read that rooster chicks will develop a small pimple like bump on the leg just above their toes where the spurs will develop. Do hens have that pimple too, and just not develop them? I checked Nellie this morning and there are pimples on her legs just about 1/4 inch above her feet. If my information is correct, I have a rooster.

Kathy

Pullets have them as well.​

 

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Thank you. So I still possibly have a hen.

This chick is growing DAILY. I give her antibiotic twice a day (for her cut toe), and I swear that each time I see her she's bigger! She goes to the vet on Tuesday and after that I'll post her weight gain.

 

[schellie69]

Okay first I have a hen that has spurs, the comb and waddles are the way to tell sex and I think you have a pullet. Do search for chicken tractors. They are sturdy small enclosures that chickens can eat grass while being in a pen. I would get her a few friends. with chickens all you need to do is make sure that their feeder is full and they have fresh water. It takes me about 10-20 minutes each day to care for them this means gathering eggs watering and feeding and of course talking and petting my girls and I have 13 hens and 1 rooster I do clean their coop once a week which takes about 15 minutes. Chickens really don't need much attention from humans they are happy in their coop/pen area. I just made a new coop and run for mine I am adding a raised salad bar (an area that has different greens growing in it with wire on top so they eat the greens with out digging out all the greens) this way they won't need to free range my back yard. they killed all my grass last year. I live in town and have a fenced back yard they could be out all day but I chose to fence a good area off for them so I had and area for my grand kids to play free of chicken poop. Also chicken poop is great for the garden. I would look into chickens tractors so you can move them around to fresh grass areas every couple of days and enjoy the fresh eggs they give you. Good luck.

 

[featherz]

It looks like a girl to me. I have an apt in brooklyn and lots of people in the city have chickens. You can easily keep her in a tiny coop with a friend - that's what others do since chickens are legal in NYC.

 

[stormylady]

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$80 later the vet tells me she's skinny and hurt her toe somehow and has an infection. I have to give her antibiotic twice a day. If the people who lost her want her back, they can have her for $80. I have to tell you though, whoever had her, their intentions weren't "honorable". Just got 2 books, Chickens in your Backyard, and Raising Chickens for Dummies and the first thing I read while browsing was not to name a chicken you're planning on eating. Well, her name is Nellie Chickenella.

I can't give her to someone who looks at her and sees dinner. Sorry, just can't do it.

This is the city, we can't let chickens roam free. Aside from ordinances, there are cats, and yard dogs to deal with. It's not safe for her. If keeping her cooped is cruel, I'll have to rehome her to someone who can care for her properly. If I rehome her, is there anyone here who could take her?

So I was kind of excited reading about Australorps and got to like the idea that she was one. Not knowing anything about chickens, how does the JG stack up? Should I be a little disappointed? Assuming that I keep her, where can I get another of the same age for her to grow up with? Should it be another JG? I went to the poultry shop to try and find feed, and there was a variety of chickens there. Should I save one of them? Would I have to get a little one? Also, I found a bag of Mana Pro medicated chick starter. She now has a steady supply of that, along with a bowl of mixed veggies in the morning, and an occasional treat of wax worms or crickets. I'll remove her oyster shell, but does she still need grit?

Oh so many questions. Time to hit the books,

Thank you all so much for all of your help!

Kathy & Nellie

First off I believe she is a J. Giant, If the vet told you she was skinny , did they tell you what breed she was? The reason Im asking is because JGs are a very large bird, and they build there skelatal system first, muscle much later on, So therefore, being bony or "skinny" would be very normal for her. And they are very slow growers As far as reaching there full potental weight and size, and that could take up to 2 years I read?
I have Australorpes and truely she doesn't really look like my girls, and I have cuckoo Marans and their eyes are dark brown and the bottoms of their feet are not yellow.

She does however belong outside in yard you could if you wanted to keep her build her a secure house and coop and get her a friend or a "few" even? Im glad you were able to take her to the vet and got meds for her toe. I do think that if they( vet) had the information and read up on the JG breed they would find she normal and not "skinny"' Life in a bird cage alone is not a life for a chicken Not a "happy"one anyway,

I also live in the city, and the chicken must be cooped, and if you have a fenced yard that is a Pen of sorts, and they cannot roam on to other peoples property. I have tons of stray cats that come in my yard all the time and never once messed with my chickens if anything there afraid of them, Stray dogs is another story, Ive never personally had a problem with them however plenty of people on here have. I also still think she looks like a girl though ive not seen any more pictures of her.

Hoping for the best for you and your Nellie,

Sandy​

 

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Nellie has been to the vet today. He took the bandage off her toe, and while it's still infected, it has gotten better. Last week it was black and swollen and he thought she might lose it. This week it's still swollen, but pinkish and healthier looking. She also donated a healthy poop sample and I'll have those results tomorrow.

In one week she went from 250 grams to 465 grams. You can actually see her grow.

 

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New pictures of Nellie taken today. Most are a little blurry, but one is a pretty good head shot. She's ready for her close up, Mr. Demille!

http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/Scylla_photos/

And that's Libby, my English shepherd sitting with us.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

It looks like she has settled well into her foster family.

For some reason I really like following these "I found a chicken" threads. There is a guy in Chicago who has found roosters on two different occasions and kept both of them. And there is a woman in Miami who was chosen by an Old English Game hen who isn't sure she wants to be caught yet. I guess I just like hearing about other people discovering the joy of chickens.

 

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I found the thread about the game hen in Miami and felt immediate kinship!

I am so torn about Nellie. If she's a female, a sanctuary will take her and I no longer have to worry about caring for her. If she's a roo (notice I'm picking up the talk! hehehe) then no one will want him and I won't be able to keep him either. You see my predicament here?
And amidst all the confusion, I'm thinking that IF I keep her I'd have to get at least one (maybe 2) more chicken(s) for companionship and winter warmth, buy a coop, and make sure it's insulated. I'm looking into solar heating panels to keep the water from freezing. OR I keep one chicken and keep her indoors in winter in a rabbit cage, like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Prevue-520-Rabbit-Bunny-Guinea-Pig-Cage-Hutch-Stand-/300346949194?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ee12be4a

I am paralyzed by indecision, especially while I wait for her to definitely become a her. If she's a him, I'm so toasted. I think I'm planning and thinking about this too much.

PS: I saw a pic of lavender Orps. Wow!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Indeed the rooster predicament is a sad one faced by many on the forum. Although we are not sure how old Nellie is, at at least her comb is not getting any redder, so chances are she is a she. Unfortunately some chickens don't reveal their rooster nature until week 11 or more, but we will keep our fingers crossed.

The rabbit cage looks like a good size, but you can wait on making any decisions for now. Just consider this as time for Nellie to completely get over her infected toe and grow a little.