- Jun 11, 2007
- 11
- 0
- 22
Hello all,
I've been reading here for the last six weeks or so, and just decided to take the plunge and say hello. So, hello! I just got into chickies recently. I rent a barn and pasture for my horses from a sweet 70 year old lady who used to have chickens but couldn't keep up with their care anymore so gave them all away a few years ago. Since I am there 2x daily, I offered to help her if she wanted to get some again and she had a lovely huge coop just sitting there. I was thinking maybe 8 or 10. She mail ordered and wanted 25 and I thought oh my, but oh well - she was so happy that she was getting her "last chance" to have chickies. The day she ordered, she told me that the chickies would be here in three days, and that she went ahead and got FIFTY since she'd have help. FIFTY CHICKIES!! So, here we are six weeks later with 49 hens and one supposed rooster (I have my doubts about that!) Oh well, what the heck, right?
I've discovered that chickens are like crack - just can't get enough of them! They are so fun to watch, and so silly, and I'm just having a great time with them. I've been reading and absorbing as much information as possible, and your website and forum here are WONDERFUL resources. I'm so glad I found them!
The chickies arrived on May 3, so that should make them almost six weeks old. She ordered hens and said to mix the breeds, but can't remember what they told her - we don't really care, but out of curiosity any guesses? I'm guessing the whites are Brahma? The rooster is definitely Rhode Island Red (she asked specifically for him). I'm not entirely convinced he's a rooster however. Some of the 'girls' have much bigger combs than he, but they are all different breeds so who knows. We'll find out soon enough, I suppose? I also understand that the sexing isn't always all that accurate, so I'm dying to see what we really have. Any good tips for spotting the boys?
The photos aren't the best, just as I got the timing/settings down my batteries died.
Any breed guesses?
FIFTY chickies, a few white, a few brown and the rest all black.
The white ones, the least afraid of the camera:
The brown ones, smaller than the others with a lovely reddish hue
The supposed rooster, The Colonel:
And one of the black ones, I really suspect these are mutts (however, I have NO experience and next to no knowledge of breeds). Some of them have little bits of white at their throat, some have just a few gold feathers around their chest, some have LOTS of gold at their chest, like a robin. All are starting to get blueish colored feathers toward their rears. Some have green legs, some have mixed color legs, and some have green legs with one or two yellow toes, some green on top and yellow on the bottom. Some have grey/black combs, most are yellow just starting to get hints of red.
I'd love any input, and could get more pictures later - maybe close ups of the few I suspect might be roos. I just love your forum, and hope to become a participant.
BTW, here's one of my horses, in case anyone likes those as well. He's an ex-racing thoroughbred, soon to be chickie companion!
I've been reading here for the last six weeks or so, and just decided to take the plunge and say hello. So, hello! I just got into chickies recently. I rent a barn and pasture for my horses from a sweet 70 year old lady who used to have chickens but couldn't keep up with their care anymore so gave them all away a few years ago. Since I am there 2x daily, I offered to help her if she wanted to get some again and she had a lovely huge coop just sitting there. I was thinking maybe 8 or 10. She mail ordered and wanted 25 and I thought oh my, but oh well - she was so happy that she was getting her "last chance" to have chickies. The day she ordered, she told me that the chickies would be here in three days, and that she went ahead and got FIFTY since she'd have help. FIFTY CHICKIES!! So, here we are six weeks later with 49 hens and one supposed rooster (I have my doubts about that!) Oh well, what the heck, right?
I've discovered that chickens are like crack - just can't get enough of them! They are so fun to watch, and so silly, and I'm just having a great time with them. I've been reading and absorbing as much information as possible, and your website and forum here are WONDERFUL resources. I'm so glad I found them!
The chickies arrived on May 3, so that should make them almost six weeks old. She ordered hens and said to mix the breeds, but can't remember what they told her - we don't really care, but out of curiosity any guesses? I'm guessing the whites are Brahma? The rooster is definitely Rhode Island Red (she asked specifically for him). I'm not entirely convinced he's a rooster however. Some of the 'girls' have much bigger combs than he, but they are all different breeds so who knows. We'll find out soon enough, I suppose? I also understand that the sexing isn't always all that accurate, so I'm dying to see what we really have. Any good tips for spotting the boys?
The photos aren't the best, just as I got the timing/settings down my batteries died.
Any breed guesses?
FIFTY chickies, a few white, a few brown and the rest all black.
The white ones, the least afraid of the camera:
The brown ones, smaller than the others with a lovely reddish hue
The supposed rooster, The Colonel:
And one of the black ones, I really suspect these are mutts (however, I have NO experience and next to no knowledge of breeds). Some of them have little bits of white at their throat, some have just a few gold feathers around their chest, some have LOTS of gold at their chest, like a robin. All are starting to get blueish colored feathers toward their rears. Some have green legs, some have mixed color legs, and some have green legs with one or two yellow toes, some green on top and yellow on the bottom. Some have grey/black combs, most are yellow just starting to get hints of red.
I'd love any input, and could get more pictures later - maybe close ups of the few I suspect might be roos. I just love your forum, and hope to become a participant.
BTW, here's one of my horses, in case anyone likes those as well. He's an ex-racing thoroughbred, soon to be chickie companion!
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