Found some chickens...what the heck are they??

[Jeffross1968]

So, we were driving home a few hours ago, and as we turned onto our dirt road, we almost ran over 3 little chickens/chicks. So of course we had to get out and catch them, which wasn't fun or easy. So anyway, we thought for sure they were chicks, but after further review

we aren't so sure. All 3 are far more advanced, feather, comb, wattle, and facial color-wise, that we're starting to really wonder what we have. We've raised many, many hatches of chicks, and have never had any chick-age chickens this advanced at this size. We have never owned bantams, so maybe that's what we are dealing with.

So we turn to the great BYC community for help! If possible, I'd like opinions on:

Breed
Gender
Age

Thanks! We have, Toe (missing one toe), Lost, and Found! Let's start with...

Toe

<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/6081931/id/5158371/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/7472265/width/400/flags/LL"></a>
<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/6081931/id/5158376/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/7472280/width/400/flags/LL"></a>
<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/6081931/id/5158380/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/7472305/width/400/flags/LL"></a>

Lost

<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/6081931/id/5158382/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/7472316/width/400/flags/LL"></a>
<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/6081931/id/5158383/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/7472322/width/400/flags/LL"></a>


...and Found....

 

[zeely]

they are bantam gamebirds. maybe oegb. i see three roosters.

 

[Jeffross1968]

Any idea on the age? These things are feathered like 4 month olds, but chirp like chicks. Do bantams ever lose the chirp?

 

[Angie8eggs]

Since they are bantams I am guess around 8 weeks old. I have an OEGB bantam and he is a little over 9 weeks old, they look similar in sizes. Glad you rescued them! They probably got lost from their home Have fun with them!

 

[Reurra]

My guess is that someone dumped them. Ive seen that happen around here frequently. They get some roosters, cant keep them, no one will take them, so they just dump them. it was awsome of you to take them in!! Im sure they have a good home now!!!!

 

[GertrudeLover01]

The one on top looks like a mini version of my ameraucana at that age! Ummm.... Lost? or Toe? the pics are mixed up. The black one with gold on her..

 

[GertrudeLover01]

But actually except for the legs/feet...Mine has slate colored feet..sorry it's not an ameraucana like i thought...

 

[GertrudeLover01]

Since they are bantams I am guess around 8 weeks old. I have an OEGB bantam and he is a little over 9 weeks old, they look similar in sizes. Glad you rescued them! They probably got lost from their home

Have fun with them!

Yeah thats sounds about right....


BTW what breed is the chick in your profile pic?

 

[CountryKitty]

I have some OEGB (my first batch) and they're about 3 months old, and the feathering looks the same as your lovely trio. They still chirp, although a couple have started to crow on very rare occasion. A couple of mine are bluebird sized, others robin sized; an adult OEGB hen wo wandered over from the neighbors last year was no bigger than a pigeon--she was an adult as she had a single chick with her. Good fliers--several of mine roost nightly now on a shelf 6' above the floor of the coop.

 

[Jeffross1968]

I'd love it if they were that old. They seem nice and healthy, but I'll have to watch them for a while before I integrate them.