Mutt Sex (week 10, unknown breed)

[BlueCamas]

White Leghorn cockerels.

 

[gummunq]

Thanks for the input, everybody! So maybe we won't get any eggs.... but they are nice pets.... which will crow.... indoors...

Will they fight a lot? Will they kill each other? Has anyone ever had roosters together with no hens who got along happily?

 

[Chambertin]

Looks like the question is answered, but I just wanted to say hello.
I'm also living in China and have taken on some poultry. Where do you keep your birds? We let some roam free while the little ones are still in the microwave box. Plan to have them roam pretty free in the apartment, do you do so?

Could be some very interesting stories to share as both our chickens grow up. Good luck!

 

[dretd]

We got 2 mystery chicks off a street vendor in Beijing. No idea what breed....
So, main questions:
1. Breed / sex guess for BB
2. Breed guess for Fifi
3. How much bigger will they get? Are they malnourished?

First of all gummunq

all the way to China. How exciting! Are you there perminantly or transplanted temporarily from lands afar?

As others have stated, I think these are Leghorns but probably have something else in their genes as well although my gut is the other breed in the mix is a small percentage.

Leghorns (typically pronounced Leg' erns by most folk in the know) are one of the most common production birds around. They are very small for a standard breed with the hens being 4-5 lbs at maturity and a bit more for the boys (no personal experience on that one). The white ones are a dominant while color so when crossed the offspring will be mostly white with few stray colored feathers. They also have giant single combs. The roo's comb will stand upright and the hen's will typically flop over.

I am not sure I agree with BBB as being a boy. If the two are clutch-mates, there is a difference in the two's development and I am guessing that BBB is a girl and Fifi is a boy. I also don't think they are necessarly malnourished, as long as you are feeding them adequate protein. As you noted chick grower is not available there so all of the billions of chickens raised in China every year somehow make due with what's available there. If they are gaining and acting perky then I am sure they are fine.

Good luck and keep us posted as they grow!