Hello everyone

[duckmom17]

We are 6 weeks into our new adventure. We have 4 chicks (I think they are all hens) and 2 ducks.

 

[Abriana]

Thats great that you have chicks. I began my flock in March of 2016, and I now have eighteen chickens. What kind of chicks do you have? I always keep mine in a box in the basement as chicks (unless hatched by my Dutch Bantam outside, in that case they go in a run inside the chicken pen), and they love to take once or more daily trips (supervised) outside to play in the grass. I take a book or something out and watch them. Yours would probably enjoy that too, and it gets them prepared to live outside one day. One way to tell if you have a rooster or hen, is once they begin getting their feathers you can look at their back feathers. If the chick is a rooster, it will have pointy, long feathers called sickle. You can look on google and find some pictures of sickle feathers. All roosters have them. Its a great way to find out if you have a hen or cockeral early. If you have any chicken questions, feel free to ask me. Enjoy your little chicks and ducks!

 

[duckmom17]

I think they are Orpington chicks and rouen ducks. Here is a pic.

We had them inside for about 3 weeks but now they are big enough to be outside. My hubby told me that if we do go with these 6 this year we will add more next year.

 

[drumstick diva]

The only Buff Orpington is the golden one in the center, the red one to the left appears to be either a Rhode Island Red, or some red production bird, I think the red one on the right is a red sex link. There is a 4th. one in the back right corner but, I can't see it well enough.

The duck in front is a Rouen, I can't see the one behind it very well.. You can also post your photos at "what breed or gender is this." Thank you for joining us at Backyard chickens.

 

[drumstick diva]

ps At this early age, the chicks look to be pullets. You could inquire about the ducks at the "Duck thread."

 

[duckmom17]

The ducks are the same. There is one blonde chick and 3 that are the reddish color.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under duckmom17

Welcome!

This is a link to the Duck Forum Diva mentioned: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks and this is one to the Breed & Gender Forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

You might want to also pop in and say hello on your local thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you ‘Find your State’s thread.

If you would like to share more pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out