Fully feathered/age/size questions

[hayley-gail]

I'm a newbie! This is a question about whether or not my chicks are fully feathered, and also a question about my older pullets.

The younger chicks pictured are two of my 4 7-8 week old chicks. They are Rhode Island Red Crosses. The other two chicks (golden chanteclers) are significantly smaller and still have downy feathers on their heads. The RIR chicks shown here seem to me to be fully feathered, do you agree? If so I'm thinking I could possibly transition them from the brooder to the coop with my two pullets? The chicks have been staying in their brooder outside in the chicken run (where the two pullets hang out) for about a week, and they have had some interaction - no bullying so far. I could leave the the smaller two chicks (chanteclers) in the brooder for another week or two. Is this a bad idea?

The picture of the two big chickens are my two RIR pullets. I do not know how old they are (wasn't told when I bought them, and I've had them about 5 weeks. Do you think these are full size chickens or will they still get bigger? They have not started laying yet, and their wattles and combs are pinkinsh (definitely not bright red). Do I still have some time before they start laying? Sorry if these are ridiculous questions!

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[lazy gardener]

Yes, they can go in the coop/run now. They will do fine. Can you show pics of the Chanteclers? I would opt to transition them all at the same time, and I'm guessing the Chanteclers are also old enough. A bit of down on the head shouldn't be an issue. When transitioning younger birds into a flock, it's helpful if you can give them space to get away/out of sight of the older birds. Perhaps some hay bales, a pallet propped up against a wall, a perch in the run. Also, multiple feed/water stations.

 

[hayley-gail]

Thank you! Yes, here is a pic of the four chicks together, and another of the chanteclers next to one of my bigger girls

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