Hello from a new chicken keeper :)

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Kathrynmodra

Kathrynmodra

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Hi everyone

I am a new chicken keeper in South Australia. Our family has just adopted 5 new chicks that will free range our yard and hopefully lay lots of eggs. I have gone a bit chicken crazy and can't stop reading this forum. There is so much stuff I didn't know!

I'm hoping someone might be able to help with a question. We purchased 2 ISA browns, 1 Australorp and 2 While Leghorns, all from a fodder shop and we were told they were good layers. They also told us that they were all hens. However one of the Leghorns displays different behaviour than the others. It chest bumps, attacks the other hens (and has pulled out many a feather) and it seems to be developing a bigger comb on its head than the others. It also isn't growing its feathers as well and looks very patchy. The other leghorn has all the feathers and looks lovely, yet they are the same age. My husband thinks the one with the larger comb is a rooster. Can anyone help? What do you think. The chick in question is my daughters favourite and she called it Rainbow, I'm hoping it doesnt turn out to be a RainBOY as my husband doesnt want to keep any roosters. Could there be a mistake in the sexing????

Thanks for any help. The photo shows all the chicks. The white one in the middle is the one we are hoping is a hen! The are all about 6 weeks old (or so we were told).



 
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sorry too soon for me to tell. You could put photos on "what gender or breed is this," forum and see what people with more expertise say. Is there a chance the seller will allow you to return if it is a rooster and allow you another hen? Some sellers do that in this country.

My friend got two serama hens years ago and they spent a lot of time chest bumping and pecking each other - but, they also started laying eggs so the mystery was over.
 
Thank you
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I really looking forward to learning a lot about chickens from this forum and hopefully sourcing some other interesting breeds I have read about on here. Ones that lay green and blue eggs! I've never even heard of this before!

I'll post on the other forum for sure, cheers!
 
Thanks Redsoxs, looks like a great link. I'm saving it! It seems I have a steep learning curve with so many varieties out there, but what an interesting hobby, I'm addicted already!

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Welcome to BYC! Unfortunately for me all my chicks that have done the raising the feathers on the neck and chest bumping have turned out to be boys good luck to you.
 
Thank you Mr MMK FARMS.

And thanks for your response liz9910, I'm still hoping for a pullet, but its such a bossy bird, I have a bad feeling about it. Fingers still crossed!
 

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