Help! What are we???

[btenbo11]

Hi all! I took these pictures today to hopefully show you some good pics of my flock. I am a new chicken owner. Raised these guys and gals from chicks. They are about 3 months. We have 12 total, 8 large red and white ones and 4 bantams which were a straight run, so unsure of whom are hens or roosters? The white frizzle is named "Chicken Little" (kids named it , the white, gray, and black one is "Little Foot" (again named by the kids), the black frizzle is "Happy Feet" ( kids again named) and the brownish/black one is stripes. When it was a chick, had beautiful stripes down its back. I thoroughly enjoy my chickens everyday and can't wait to get eggs soon. I am suspecting the white/gray/black is a rooster b/c i have seen his crow and try to mount some of the hens, have also seen the brown/black one crow. Would love some feedback from all of you expert chicken parents as to what breeds you think i have, whether they are hens or roosters and maybe about signs to look for when eggs are soon to come. I guess you could call me a crazy bird lady b/c I am in the process of hand painting signs to go on our chicken coop and can't wait to decorate and paint it soon! They are all pretty friendly and tolerate being held. Some better than others. Thanks and happy chicken days

 

[btenbo11]

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

1- Red Sex links all are female
2-Dark Cornish female
3-Dark Brahma male
4- white frizzle Cochin? Male

The RSLs could start laying at 18 weeks old but most will usually start by 20 weeks. I have no idea how long it takes Cornish to start laying, maybe 24+ weeks.

 

[Kev]

the ones with white tails are best called generic term of red sex links. They are basically a hybrid for high egg production and being able to sex by color of chicks at hatch. All of these are female.

Little foot is dark brahma male. white frizzle is male. Stripes is a cornish but male unlike the other poster thinks. Don't see a black frizzle in any of pics.

When the combs are bigger, redder and plumper on the girls, that's when to expect eggs soon.

 

[btenbo11]

RoostersCrow/HensDeliver-
Thank you for the great information. I will start researching these breeds and hope to learn alot more

 

[btenbo11]

KEV-
Wow! Thanks for your informative post and the descrepancy between the sex of Stripes. I will have to post a pic of Happy Feet, the black frizzle so maybe you can tell me the sex of that one. Thanks again.

 

[btenbo11]

Here is Happy Feet, not sure if rooster but I am leaning towards hen b/c of temperment

 

[Kev]

Good news, that's a girl for sure.

Heads up if there were plans to hatch from her eggs in particular- it's not good idea to breed a frizzled bird with a frizzled birds because that will throw some "Frazzled" birds- birds pure for the frizzling gene. Their feathers get way too curly and brittle so they end up very naked and can be "unhealthy"(weak) or cannot easily handle the winters outside.

Breeding either frizzle to any other birds you have will be perfectly allright and half of the offspring will be frizzled.

 

[btenbo11]

That's great news! Being first time chicken owners and having 3 possible roosters already, i was really hoping she wasn't. She is very docile and friendly, my 3 year old son's favorite. Thanks for the info on breeding the frizzles. Will definately remember that b/c we don't want to have any weak chicks, which wouldn't be for a long while anyways. Just want to try eggs for eating first and then maybe chicks one day down the road. Thanks again for your help

 

[Kev]

No problem, enjoy the chickens!