My first feather babies!

[midwestmommy]

We got our first ladies this weekend. They are 4-5 days now.
New Hampshire Red - Big Mama
Buff Orpington - Henrietta
2 EEs, Chip (looks like a chipmunk right now) and Coco
2 Barred Rocks, not named yet (my DS(4) is rooting for BeBeBea and MeMeMea, but I'm not sold on that)

They're doing great so far, the kids love them and have been surprisingly gentle. Now the snow needs to melt so we can build our real coop before these gals outgrow the house!

 

[chicken-herder]

Wow! They are fantastic!

 

[b.hromada]

So cute! And yes, they outgrow the house real quick! I've got three new ones myself, that I got near the end of January, and I can tell you, they are huge now! I've got a Old English Game Bantam, and they are much bigger than her! Although, she thinks she's the bigger one. Through a cage, of course. Enjoy your new babies! Welcome to BYC also, so glad you joined us!

 

[TwoCrows]

Adorable!

Good luck with your new babies!

 

[midwestmommy]

I finally named my 2 BRs, Puff, due to her prominent posterior, and Roxie. I like having names for them all!

Big Mama is gigantic, like double the size of her "sissies". Do NH Reds grow faster than other breeds, or do you think I have a roo on my hands?

 

[TwoCrows]

You can't tell by growth or size just yet. And while the heavy breed birds will be bigger than the smaller breeds, at this age, they can grow all at different rates. I have had runty chicks and chicks that just tower over the others and all in the same breed!! All of which turned out to be hens as well! So you can't tell just yet. I know the suspense can kill you. LOL

 

[midwestmommy]

Thanks for the encouragement twocrows, the suspense is hard to handle!

this is big mama next to roxie today.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks for the encouragement twocrows, the suspense is hard to handle! this is big mama next to roxie today.

Looking at the feather growth, they both look the same. The legs look the same too. Usually pullets grow their primaries in early along with the tail feathers. The cockerels will start to grow thick legs. Now, it is still early to really judge, but as far as I can see, they are both growing about at the same rate. I have had chicks shoot up like bean stalks over the others and still be girls.

So I will go out on a limb and say these two are pullets. But please don't hold me to it!!