Meet Polly - the Pirate Chicken :) *Update on page 6!*

[ZooMummzy]

Well, it's official: Polly is a Jack

I took him for a nice car ride (he likes to ride on my lap) down to the local feed store and the guy who has sexed all my chicks gave me the official word - rooster. Polly or Jack, I love this little guy so much. I'm hoping his crow is silent if he crows at all, but hopefully if I have to rehome him, someone else will fall in love with his "Pirate look" too

 

[theoldchick]

Bless his little heart! And bless you for taking care of him so thoughtfully.

 

[tinychicky]

i have a half blind hen who gets on just fine! just don't let her free-range. they can't see aerial predetors to avoid them!

 

[ZooMummzy]

Thank you

No, he won't be free ranging - none of my chickens too. Too many hawks in our town. I'm just praying he can't crow!

 

[Xodrana]

Can someone smarter than me invent some sort of brace which could gradualy straighten the crossbeaks? Sort of like teeth straightening braces for people?
Get busy engineers, orthodontists, mad scientists etc. I'll bet there are some BYC ers in each of these categories who could figure a way to ease the suffering of these sweet little chickens.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Just wanted to update everyone on how Jack is doing

Checking out the other roosters...

As you can see, he is handsome as ever!

He follows me everywhere and demands to be held often. He loves nuzzling under my hair with his head on my shoulder the best and wow does he ever get jealous when other chickens try to get some lap time!

He has been living outside with my girls and other roosters for a month now and is doing awesome! All the chickens love him, literally. Not one of them - hens or roosters - have picked on him at all. They completely accept him and seem to respect him, even my head rooster and hen. My little OEGB rooster is in love with him (seriously) - it's odd

He is having some issues eating out of the normal feeders so I'm looking for one of those large bin feeders to hang outside for him. He eats fine as long as he can scoop his food. I tried a bowl but he loved to stand in the middle of it and eat, which encouraged the other chickens to try and do the same. It was a big mess, lol. Thankfully, he has his pen inside with a feeder he can eat out of so he goes in and out of the garage several times a day to eat and drink. He is unable to eat treats but that doesn't stop him from scratching at the ground for bugs and other goodies.


Oh and best of all, no crowing!

The most he can manage is a low grunt/growl and a squeal. He really is the perfect rooster

 

[SpringChickens]

Can you post some more pictures of him? Maybe some good side shots of his tail feathers? I'm not convinced that "he" really is a "him". Pretty bird, either way!

 

[ChickLover98]

LOVE her!

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
Funny you should say that...I'm not convinced either even though my friend sexed him for me a month ago. He has never been wrong with any of my chicks (of any age) I bought this year so I took him at his word. Jack has shown some rooster tendencies but he's still young - only 4 months old - and I think a little bit stunted in normal growth due to his disabilities. I will get some more photos today from the side and tops.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Is Polly's severe cross beak allowing her to get enough to eat? She/he seems quite stunted at that age. My 18 week old BLRW's cross beak is pretty bad --the upper and lower beak don't even meet. I give the 5 pullets their mash moisten with some water every morning in a bowl that is not so big she can''t use the sides to help push the food in her beak but a few inches deep so she gets a lot of feed (gets them all to eat the good nutrients too--can't pick it out so easily). She gets a really big crop with that and they all love it!

She can't peck grass (although she occasionally tries) so I give them organic spring greens and give their treats (mealworms and frozen veggies) to her in their sand run as she can use the sand to push it into her beak. I ordered a special trough on line (Dura feeder used for the range) that is deep and wide so she can shovel the mash easily and the others use it too. She gets enough food to survive and be a normal size but a little lean with the shoveling method. I honestly believe the moistened mash does the trick. She is nicely filled out and top of the pecking order too!

Good picture http://www.strombergschickens.com/products/feeders_trough.php
cheaper at: http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/dura_trough_feeders.html

I think Polly is wonderful and possibly a pullet. Once Polly fills out, lays an egg or crows you'll know for sure.