Hi BYC! I am a new chicken enthusiast. I posted a few times when I first got my 24 chicks in March. I was so afraid I was going to do something totally catostrophic and that the poor little things wouldn't survive my ignorance! All of you were very supportive and generous with your knowledge and experiences and I am happy to report that I still have 23 healthy happy chicks. They are about 6 weeks old now and doing very well thanks in large part to all the great information and tips I have gotten from this forum! Anyway, I haven't posted in a while, so I thought I would share a few photos. They are a little small; still mastering the Photobucket thing... We have a mix of Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, Black Australorps, Black Sex Links, Buff Orpingtons, and Americaunas. Being new to the chicken business, I wasn't sure which ones I would like best! I wanted all pullets, but as you'll see later, I am suspicious of a couple roosters! Here we are just hanging out... An Australorp I call Curious George. She comes right up close to me and kind of cocks her head to one side. She is one of the few who will let me pet her. An Americauna my nephew named Trooper. Do her green legs indicate that she will lay green eggs? OK, here are the two I am suspicious of. I am not sure if they are Rhode Island Reds or New Hampshire Reds. Their combs are much more developed and redder than the rest. Any expert opinions? If they turn out to be nice roosters, they are welcome to stick around, but if the turn out to be too aggressive.... Well, we'll just see! This is another little Americauna named Pearl. She is in a pet carrier for a few days because the others were really picking at her poor little bottom! I put the carrier in the coop with the rest so she has some company. She looks better already today than she did yesterday! You can see the red feathers on her bottom where she was getting pecked. Anyway, I just wanted to extend a thank you to everyone. I haven't posted lately, but I check in every day to see what folks are up to and usually get a question or two of my own answered! Thank you! Thank you! Tracey
Awwwwwwwwww That Pearl is precious!!!! I hope you can reintegrate her at a lter point and keep the bullies away!!!
hi did you put any antibiotic ointmant on it ? it will help it heal.pearl is a real sweetie.i think the ones with the little combs are litte roosters i have some rirs that are 12 wks old and no combs that size
You have a right to wonder about those 2. In the first photo you can really see the difference in comb size. Yes, they might be roosters. These are production birds and the roosters do not tend to be aggresive. If you want to keep them then never take anything off of them, chase them around a little, never let them think that you are one of thier hens and you wont have any problems from them.
Hi, I think you have two boys also. When I first got my pullets it wasn't long before I suspected I had two roosters. It turned out I was right. With 21 pullets you might do just fine with 2 cockerals. I only had 8 pullets and had to get rid of one rooster due to fighting over the girls. I have the second grade class at my middle child's school hatching some New Hampshire eggs (among others) for me. I hope they do well I really think I'm going to like that breed. Great pics thanks for sharing. Jen