My tiny foster flock

[Cold-Blood]

Silver laced Wyandottes as chicks and much older

 

[Cold-Blood]

Sorry that took so ridiculously long..

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

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SO beautiful. All of it! Thank you for sharing

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

Sorry that took so ridiculously long..

No worries, I’m well versed in life getting in the way. I really appreciate the pictures, I see now what differences you’re talking about. Clover’s feathers are definitely more bottled and white.

I’ll try to keep getting pictures once they all go to their forever farm in a few weeks…and am trying to be patient as they grow and change. I am so excited to see how they will be as adults

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

Update time - stories, personalities, and quite a few pictures!

The foster flock is 5 weeks old now and will be going to the farm next weekend. Wattles and combs are cropping up everywhere. They’re all enjoying the extra room to zoom around in the outside pen. Some have ventured onto the edge and out into the ground… and getting very concerned when they can’t figure out how to get back in. Rain hasn’t bothered them too much, and they’ve figured out that there are yummy bugs in the grass! Here’s the flock run down (and mass measurements were taken Saturday):

Dot - 592g - curious, loves dried mealworms, still likes snuggling some.

Clover - 794g - no longer jumps up on my hand to snuggle, but will hunker down for some back pets… still a gentle giant, much less aggressive towards the others now that there’s more room.

Gerri/Jerry - 390g - about the same physical size as Dot but very light, one of the two most curious and was the first to fly out of the pen, has a gorgeous grey/silver color and a hilarious toupé-looking set of feathers on the head, likes to figure things out rather than be shown. No wattles, tiny little comb: pullet??

Sprite - 615g - has a beautiful teal/purple sheen to the black feathers and a few feathers with copper veins, be far the calmest of the flock, would rather snuggle for some affection than explore the yard…small wattles coming in.

Squeak - 620g - friendlier now that there’s more room, white flecks in his feathers, developing good-sized wattles and comb, passive around the others.

Fin - 389g - no longer my little buddy (but will still perch on my shoulder from time to time) and very “bratty little sibling” to the rest, still the smallest in stature, second to fly out of the pen and explore, hardly any comb (pea comb??), beautiful colors developing.

Here’s the whole foster flock! Mind you, it’s a good 90F and they’re all huddled together. Go figure!

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

The chicks are at the farm now and growing like crazy. No crowing from anyone yet, but time will tell! The coloring has gotten so much more vibrant and unique. Their personalities haven’t changed much since they joined the flock. They fit right in, even bumming a few rides on the goats! They all pop their heads up when I visit and call them.

My little Fin - still a sprit spitfire and annoying little sibling! Likes to fly out of the pen to explore.

Squeak has almost reverse lacing (is that a thing??) with some gorgeous iridescent purple and teal coloring.

Sprite has gotten huge and has this beautiful copper and black coloring. Jury is still out on whether this is a pullet or a cockerel.

Dot is still quite the snuggler and kiddo was amazed that I could just let him perch on my shoulder and pet him until he fell asleep.

Clover is no longer the biggest, but has shown zero aggression towards me, the farmer, the kiddo, or any of the other chickens. Hopefully things will stay that way and the gentle giant title will stick.

Last up is Gerri, the little roadrunner. Definitely does not like to be held and way too fast to bother chasing. The toupee had me in stitches when it’s fluffed up.

All in all, I think this venture into flock fostering was a success! The chicks are happy, healthy, and growing.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

The chicks are at the farm now and growing like crazy. No crowing from anyone yet, but time will tell! The coloring has gotten so much more vibrant and unique. Their personalities haven’t changed much since they joined the flock. They fit right in, even bumming a few rides on the goats! They all pop their heads up when I visit and call them. View attachment 3243140My little Fin - still a sprit spitfire and annoying little sibling! Likes to fly out of the pen to explore.

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Squeak has almost reverse lacing (is that a thing??) with some gorgeous iridescent purple and teal coloring.

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Sprite has gotten huge and has this beautiful copper and black coloring. Jury is still out on whether this is a pullet or a cockerel.

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Dot is still quite the snuggler and kiddo was amazed that I could just let him perch on my shoulder and pet him until he fell asleep.

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Clover is no longer the biggest, but has shown zero aggression towards me, the farmer, the kiddo, or any of the other chickens. Hopefully things will stay that way and the gentle giant title will stick.
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Last up is Gerri, the little roadrunner. Definitely does not like to be held and way too fast to bother chasing. The toupee had me in stitches when it’s fluffed up.

All in all, I think this venture into flock fostering was a success! The chicks are happy, healthy, and growing. View attachment 3243164

All are cockerels except for Gerri. They’re beautiful mixes, looks like they may have some polish genetics.

 

[Foster_Mother_Hen]

All are cockerels except for Gerri. They’re beautiful mixes, looks like they may have some polish genetics.

Thanks! What all directed you to cockerel, if you don’t mind my asking? I was pretty sure about Dot and Clover but not the others. I really don’t have much of a frame of reference, as this is my first go they’re just over 12 weeks old now.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Thanks! What all directed you to cockerel, if you don’t mind my asking? I was pretty sure about Dot and Clover but not the others. I really don’t have much of a frame of reference, as this is my first go they’re just over 12 weeks old now.

All of them except Gerri have rooster-specific pointed/shiny feathering.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Mine are the same age. Super fun age!