Need help identifying 3 pullets please...

[chickenlorena]

Hello everyone and thank you in advance!! I'm a VERY NEW chicken owner and I'm loving it. Learning lots everyday... I'm attaching picts... the first one is what I think is a cornish hen that we rescued from animal control the day she was going to be put down. She's growing at an incredible rate... and her legs are so thick! She's trylu a sweetheart

The second one is what I think might be an EE... slate legs and beak, muff and beard...

The third one is I think a Patridge Barred Rock??? Sorry, pict is not good... she was moving too much!

Lorena

 

[gryeyes]

Yup, your second pullet is an EE.

I haven't any experience with cornish crosses or partridge rocks, sorry.

But they are all good lookin' girls!

 

[javachick]

Hi Lorena

Just my thoughts:

I think the first photo you have a cornish or a cornish/cross. If it is a cornish/cross since they are bred for meat she might not live to become a layer, because sometimes they get so big they have a heart attack before they are very old. A true cornish could be a breeder and live longer.

The second photo looks like an EE but it might be a cockerel. Are the neck feathers rounded or pointed on the ends?

The last bird looks like a pullet but you might have to wait until she grows up a little more before you can id her.

Where did you get all your birds?

javachick

 

[chickenlorena]

Thanks for all your input.

I got the "cornish" from animal control... I couldn't bear leaving her there since she was going to be put down shortly. We are worried about her growth rate and I've contacted Farm Sanctuary. They've told me they've had a lot of success rehabilitating broilers (meat birds). Our girl is on a strict diet of only 1/3 cup of feed in the morning and 1/3 at night. With that we hope she gets to live a good quality life longer than most meat birds. I really don't care if she ever lays eggs. We want these hens as animal companions solely. The eggs are just a plus!

The other 2 were given to me by a very nice lady who just had too many... she assured me they were pullets. I hope so because I cannot have a rooster in my neighborhood.

 

[Lbrad7]

I was going to give you that same talk about the cornish x but it sounds like you have done your research and know exactly what you are doing with it. The other two look like pullets to me and you are right about the middle bird, it is a EE. The last bird could be a partridge rock or a brown leghorn pullet. She looks a little too young to tell but if her ear lobe is white she is a brown leghorn and if its red she is more than likely a partridge rock. When she starts laying you will know for sure...rock = brown eggs and leghorn = white.

Good luck to you and welcome to the addiction!!!

 

[txcarl1258]

Not sure what breed the bottom one is, but they second two are 100% girls. Not a 100% on the cornish though.

 

[chickenlorena]

Thanks!! I'm glad that the last 2 are hens. I'm pretty sure the cornish x is a hen also. We've had her for about 5 weeks and we think she was about 6 weeks when we adopted her. Her comb just started growing and getting a little bit red this week... compared to other cornish cockerels at this age she definetly looks like a pullet... I hope!!! Just in case, I'm going to post this pict again in another post asking the experts on meat birds

I so appreciate all your input... this site is great!

Lorena

 

[txcarl1258]

Forgot to add that I did raise some Cornish X's to laying age and they were big girls who laid BIG eggs! One of them laid double yolkers every day. They lived on a restricted diet and live a little over a year. I live in South TX and it gets really hot! I am sure that had something to do with their early demise.

 

[chickenlorena]

Thanks txcarl1258

A years seems so short for such a beautiful animal... too bad the meat industry has manipulated these creatures to such extent... I hope our hen lives a little longer than that. Our children are already attached to her and so am I! Besides, she well deserves it

Lorena

 

[txcarl1258]

They are bred for a certain purpose and fulfill it very well. I used to raise them for 4-h and really enjoyed them, except for all the mess they make! Some people love them and others hate them. I only wish they didn't grow as fast so they would not have so many leg problems, but I do like that they grow quickly so you can have meat for the freezer.