New to BYC

[valtron3030]

Hello!

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am new to chickens, though I have been coveting chickens for a long time. I recently, finally, was able to start my first flock-- only about 8 weeks ago!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I have 6 birds. 2 ducks and 4 hens!
(3) What breeds do you have?
The ducks are a Rouen and Blue Swede; and the hens are a Rhode Island Red; Black Australorp; Easter Egger; and a Cuckoo Maran.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I like to sit outside and watch them-- in a perfect world I'd quit my job and stare and at chickens all day.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Weight lifting and gardening.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We have a house full! 2 little dogs, 3 cats, and 2 guinea pigs!
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I am worried my australorp is a roo... I need the collective wisdom of the community.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! How old is the Australorp that you think might be a rooster?

 

[Haydog03]

Welcome to BYC! I’m glad you joined our community! I have ducks, and sadly no chickens! Hope to see you around the forum!

 

[valtron3030]

6 weeks! Looking through the forums everyone seems to unanimously agree that 6 weeks is too early to tell-- so I'm holding out hope! The ones that have been hands down identified as roos seems to have a much bigger comb than mine-- but mine's is quite a lot larger than her nest-mates.... But I also read that Australorps tend to get their combs quicker that other breeds as well... so I don't really know.... Chicken drama.

Hello, and welcome to BYC! How old is the Australorp that you think might be a rooster?

 

[valtron3030]

Thank you. The ducks really are the queens of the yard. I simply adore them.

Welcome to BYC! I’m glad you joined our community! I have ducks, and sadly no chickens! Hope to see you around the forum!

 

[Haydog03]

Thank you. The ducks really are the queens of the yard. I simply adore them.

I adore them, too! I could watch them peck around for hours! We just got a snow, and our male (Hercules) would use his bill to try and push the snow off the ledge of the fence. We wouldn’t eat it, or anything, just pushed it off! Our female swims during the snow, and pushes ice around in the pool!

 

[BlueBaby]

6 weeks! Looking through the forums everyone seems to unanimously agree that 6 weeks is too early to tell-- so I'm holding out hope! The ones that have been hands down identified as roos seems to have a much bigger comb than mine-- but mine's is quite a lot larger than her nest-mates.... But I also read that Australorps tend to get their combs quicker that other breeds as well... so I don't really know.... Chicken drama.

Yes, sometimes it is hard to tell the sex of one that is still so young, especially when they are different breeds. It's easier to tell, when they are all the same breed so you can compare them better.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[BigATC]

Welcome to the flock! Maybe post a pic of that suspect roo?

 

[alexa009]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens! We are glad you joined the flock! BYC is a helpful site providing all of the information you need to know about poultry! There is always space for more members on the BYC roost!

6 weeks! Looking through the forums everyone seems to unanimously agree that 6 weeks is too early to tell-- so I'm holding out hope! The ones that have been hands down identified as roos seems to have a much bigger comb than mine-- but mine's is quite a lot larger than her nest-mates.... But I also read that Australorps tend to get their combs quicker that other breeds as well... so I don't really know.... Chicken drama.

Can you please post a picture? Six weeks can be the right age to tell in a lot of young birds.
Hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!