New Baby Chicken?

[EggyTheHen]

Hi, I just got a surprise new baby chicken. The neighbor found a barred rock baby wandering into her garage and decided to give her to us. We didn't get any warning for this so I didn't get to research how to do this.
She's a very young pullet, very small, and she cheeps like a baby. It looks like her feathers aren't fully in yet, as there's still a lot of chick down sticking out.

I've had chickens for over 8 years but I have never had a chicken this young. I'm completely new to this. So I have a few questions:

Is introducing a baby to adult chickens the same as introducing older chickens to each other?
Is she old enough to be outside in the cold by herself?
Do I give her chick feed or is there a feed for pullets?
Is it possible it might be a cockerel?

Thanks Give me as many tips as you have.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Looks female from the barring, but may be a Black Sex Link cockerel. I'd like a better picture; the comb looks pretty red.

Introducing baby is like introducing adults, yes. (Mind you, I have no personal experience with this, as my flock primarily repopulates via broody hen.)

Definitely old enough to be outside by herself in most temperatures. (EDT: As in, should not be out below freezing. Probably good anything 40+)

Chick feed works. A lot of people buy grower, but according to BYC, the only difference is that grower has a lower protein percentage.

 

[EggyTheHen]

Looks female from the barring, but may be a Black Sex Link cockerel. I'd like a better picture; the comb looks pretty red.

Introducing baby is like introducing adults, yes. (Mind you, I have no personal experience with this, as my flock primarily repopulates via broody hen.)

Definitely old enough to be outside by herself in most temperatures. (EDT: As in, should not be out below freezing. Probably good anything 40+)

Chick feed works. A lot of people buy grower, but according to BYC, the only difference is that grower has a lower protein percentage.

Thank you! Her comb looks pretty yellow/pinkish.

 

[chickens really]

It's old enough to be off heat and live outside..It needs a Grower feed. And put it in a look no touch pen next to your Birds for a week or so..

 

[Criticalicious]

I hope you quarantined

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thank you! Her comb looks pretty yellow/pinkish.
View attachment 1429411
View attachment 1429410

Comb looks pretty pink for two(?) months.

Wait and See?

 

[aliciaFarmer]

She *may* be a he. I have six 7.5 week old BR girls that are a bit bigger, but their combs are nowhere near as dark. But the barring does look female so I could totally be wrong. I love the "wait and see" phase.

 

[EggyTheHen]

I really hope it's not a rooster. The neighbors wouldn't like all the noise :/
Honestly it might just be the camera, because it looks way darker in the picture than real life. Her comb is very light.

 

[Criticalicious]

If it's one of these, definitely a pullet.

 

[EggyTheHen]

She's doing great and can walk around the yard all by herself now! The other hens are getting along with her pretty well.
But she cheeps when I'm not outside and stands by the door, waiting for me to come out. When I do come out, she follows me around everywhere and hops on my lap. She isn't flocking with the other chickens and she won't stop following me. It's super cute and I let her take naps on my lap, but when will she stop? I feel guilty whenever I leave her outside.