Help! Broody Hen!

[ChickenTenderz]

The leghorn hen should lay white eggs while the RIR will lay brown. You can tell by the eggshell color who the mother is.

A RIR rooster over a white leghorn hen will not get a red sex link. The genetics are not correct. Any chicks, male or female, from that cross should be white.

Those two chicks are from the RIR hens. No idea as to sex.

One of the eggs that hatched was a dark brown the other three eggs were lighter but not white. Our RIR girls lay dark brown eggs but sometimes they are light like these are.

So you are saying both chicks that hatched are RIR, what would a RIR rooster/leghorn hen cross be?

One of the other eggs got cracked today it was full of yellow goop, so I'm thinking a 3 week old unfertilized egg. She is still sitting on the last one, but also teaching the chicks to eat and drink. Today is day 21, if the last egg hasn't been cracked or started hatching by Monday I will remove it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So you are saying both chicks that hatched are RIR, what would a RIR rooster/leghorn hen cross be?

A mutt or crossbreed, whatever you want to call it. If a hen she should lay really well. In size, probably somewhere between a RIR and leghorn. White if the genetics are what they are supposed to be. There is a fair chance you could see some red leakage. Leakage is where a few random off-color feathers could show through.

 

[Mrs. K]

Now you will spend your time watching them... and debating what gender they are? Pullets or cockerels.

 

[ChickenTenderz]

Now you will spend your time watching them... and debating what gender they are? Pullets or cockerels.

Yes, my daughter named them Dot & Peaches. One has a dark dot on her head, the other is brown & white like peaches & cream. Of course I know they won't look like that forever, but it got them their names. Fingers crossed they are both pullets!

She is still sitting on the last egg, pretty sure it isn't going to hatch. Tips on when/how to take it?

 

[ChickenTenderz]

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[ChickenTenderz]

Yes, my daughter named them Dot & Peaches. One has a dark dot on her head, the other is brown & white like peaches & cream. Of course I know they won't look like that forever, but it got them their names. Fingers crossed they are both pullets!

She is still sitting on the last egg, pretty sure it isn't going to hatch. Tips on when/how to take it?

Mama finally decided yesterday the last egg isn't going to hatch and kicked it out of the nest. She's up and walking around with the chicks now. I removed the egg.
So far I'm thinking the brown chick (Dot) is a pullet, due to the feather shape on her wings and she has little tail feathers starting to grow. The other chick (Peaches) I'm not sure since it was only brown on its head & back with white everywhere else...is it a full RIR chick or a cross of the RIR rooster & white leghorn? Either way, the wing feathers looked more straight and no rail feathers have started. The pic below is from the day after they hatched. I will have to try to get new pics since they are almost 1 wk old now.

 

[ChickenTenderz]

Pretty sure that Dot is a full Rhode Island Red pullet. She got her tail feathers pretty quick and looks like all our other RIR chicks did at that age. The other chick Peaches I am sure is a cross of RIR rooster & white Leghorn hen, I'm not so sure what to look for with this Golden Comet or whatever it is. This chick is larger than the RIR chick the tail feathers are still not coming in much, and the comb is larger. Anybody want to offer a guess on gender at 4-5 weeks old? They run around so much it's hard to get good pics, finally got one of Peaches, Dot was too quick and ran under the bushes.

 

[Ridgerunner]

finally got one of Peaches,

I see long thick legs, an upright posture, and a specific body composition. I think I see wattles. I'm sure you have a boy.

 

[ChickenTenderz]

I see long thick legs, an upright posture, and a specific body composition. I think I see wattles. I'm sure you have a boy.

Guess it doesn't matter now. Stray dogs came in my yard while I was at work and ate him.

We do still have Dottie (at 5 weeks they are still small enough to squeeze through the chain link run & loved to explore & escape the big hens) All our girls are shaken up, Bernadette has her remaining baby tucked safe under her wing.