Just rescued a stray chicken. What breed is it and other questions

[eddiejams]

Hi, I was at the post office a few days ago and noticed a small chicken sitting under a bush near a busy street. I asked the postal workers about it and they said it had been there for a week. People were leaving hot dogs and other food for it to eat.

I asked a few guys to help me catch it and now I have it at my house living in a dog crate. I have 4 other hens and don't want to let this little guy in with them until I'm sure it has no health issues, plus I don't want my girls to hurt him since they are twice his size.

But this little guy really wants out of the dog crate. I took him outside in the dog crate and he saw my hens and he really wanted out to get to them. It was like he has seen his mother!

Anyway, I am wondering if this little guy is a bantam of some sort. It's the smallest chicken I've ever seen. Also, I don't think it's a baby, but it hasn't laid any eggs either. I'm not even sure it's a male or female, though my gut feeling is that it's a hen.

Any thoughts? Male/Female? Breed?

Also, when I do let him in with the girls, should I worry about him being so small and being the only one being introduced to the flock?

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

deffinitely a hen. maybe a old english game mix

good for you for rescuing her! She's lucky.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I agree, hen. And she is a bantam of sort.

 

[popsicle]

What breed are your older hens? There is a good chance that the new one, since being a small bantam, will be picked on a bit but will be able to escape.

Try looking up "introducing new hen" (and similar phrases) for loads of suggestions on how to best introduce her to your older flock. I've had few problems introducing birds, but I've usually introduced more than one at a time.

 

[my sunwolf]

x2 on the Old English Game comment. Definitely a mix. She's pretty!

 

[eddiejams]

Thanks! I'll have to look up old english game chickens. I'm glad she's a hen! i don't know if my neighbor would welcome a rooster!