Hi there i posted this question before but anyone know what breed and gender these are ?

[chick4chooks]

Hi there i had been given 4 chickens (2 x 6-7 month olds and 1 x 12-13 month old the other 12 month old i could not find), I do not know what breed they are (or breeds) . They seem to want to keep going in the opposite direction and are very very quiet. i have been told that they should lay 1-2 weeks after being introduced to there new coup and land. I felt stink having them stuck in a coup for 5 days and decided to let them go free range ( not laying still ) then the neighbour came over and said do not let them free range untill they lay an egg first. They were free range before i got them. They started to roost in the trees and got told they will attract rats etc laying eggs everywhere. I feed them laying pallets and scraps sweet corn egg shells and oyster grit ans have put a golf ball in nests to encourage them to lay eggs. 3 weeks later still no show of eggs. Any suggestions pleeeeze. My toddlers are getting impatient lol.

 

[krista74]

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, so please take this with a grain of salt, but....

Is there a chance that first one might be a rooster?

I only ask because I've always been under the impression that colouring is a male trait?

I hope I'm wrong!

Please, experienced chicken people - tell me I'm wrong for @chick4chook's sake!

- Krista

 

[Michael OShay]

The one in the top photo is a Red Sex Link rooster for sure. The white one with black flecks appears to be an Austra White hen. The black one is a mixed breed hen (with what appears to be copper coloring in her neck she might be a Black Sex Link).

 

[krista74]

Thanks for the confirmation of my suspicions Michael.

Sorry @ chick4chook!

Hopefully the others will give you some nice eggs soon.


- Krista

 

[chick4chooks]

Thank you krista74 . . It seems you know more than me lol. Does that mean ill end up with more chicks if i do not watch it lol

 

[chick4chooks]

Thank you micheal you seem to be right from what i have googled the images are exactly the same colouring. I guess i wont be getting any eggs from him lol. . What is the pros and cons of having a rooster in the same space as the hens.?

 

[krista74]

Thank you krista74 . . It seems you know more than me lol. Does that mean ill end up with more chicks if i do not watch it lol

If one of the hens go broody, and sits on the eggs for 21 days, then YES!

If you don't want to hatch out chicks though, just make sure you collect the eggs daily. I'm sure your kids are desperate to do that anyway!

- Krista

 

[chick4chooks]

If one of the hens go broody, and sits on the eggs for 21 days, then YES!

If you don't want to hatch out chicks though, just make sure you collect the eggs daily. I'm sure your kids are desperate to do that anyway!

- Krista

I guess that would not be a bad thing having some little chicks for the kids to feed and pick up and cuddle, although he has not startedsaying " any hen would do" yet i guess it is coming. hopefully make some chicks before he does. But yes the kids are desperate to do that anyway. Would you recommend getting more hens before he damages the hens as there are only 2-3 ?

 

[krista74]

I guess that would not be a bad thing having some little chicks for the kids to feed and pick up and cuddle, although he has not startedsaying " any hen would do" yet i guess it is coming. hopefully make some chicks before he does. But yes the kids are desperate to do that anyway. Would you recommend getting more hens before he damages the hens as there are only 2-3 ?

A few more certainly wouldn't hurt.

I started off with 6 hens and my rooster mated them so often in his first year that they all had bare backs and had to wear aprons. It wasn't that he was rough, he was just big and heavy, and when he was treading their feathers got torn out by the sheer weight of him. I expanded my flock up to 8 hens which helped immensely, so if you have the space and the money for a few more I would recommend that. Even just a couple more will help

I hope your fourth chicken (not pictured) is a female too! You could post a picture of her when you eventually find her, lol.

I see you were asking about the benefits of having a rooster earlier too. A good rooster will find tasty treats for his girls to eat. He will stand guard over the flock and alert them (and you!) to impending danger such as lurking predators. He will lead the girls around during the day, and take them all back to their coop at dusk. And of course, he can fertilise eggs - very important for hatching, obviously! They also say that when there is a rooster in the flock it controls squabbles amongst the girls. They instil a sense of calm amongst the flock. Oh, and he will find them 'good' nests to lay their eggs in, sometimes even fluffing around in the hay to show them how great that spot is! This is usually done in conjunction with very excited "book-book-book" sounds by the rooster!

The cons are that they crow, not just in the morning but at all times of the day and night. I like the sound of a rooster crowing though, so that could be a 'pro' depending on how you feel about it! They can damage the hens via mating, which you've already highlighted. Some can be aggressive with their girls, and towards people too. Not all though! Just keep an eye on him around the kids, as aggression tends to rear it's ugly head around a year old, when the hormones are well and truly flowing.

- Krista

 

[BantamLover21]

The one in the top photo is a Red Sex Link rooster for sure. The white one with black flecks appears to be an Austra White hen. The black one is a mixed breed hen (with what appears to be copper coloring in her neck she might be a Black Sex Link).

I agree.