OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[loveourbirds]

basque, they are young in these pics, the red gets darker and black gets more pronounced.






again they are young in these pics, but these are lemon cuckoo orpingtons, buff colored with white spots. there is a little trick to breeding these. two barred parents make beautiful roosters but not so great hens, if you start with a trio, get a barred rooster, one barred hen and one buff hen.

 

[minihorse927]

I was looking at my porcelain d'uccle and I have one cockerel and 4 pullets. The one we believe is a gold neck is a pullet. Why is it the eggs I get for swaps or fun are hatching out all pullets and the ones I buy that I really want are all Roos. Figures...

 

[loveourbirds]

i seem to get more pullets from my bantams. on my "egg laying breeds" it seems like i get more roosters. i can tell you that feed and age makes a difference, along with certain incubation practices.

 

[Chickawawa]

Quote: i can usually tell them at a month old by the way they walk. its not something i can teach but ill try to explain. the males will walk more upright with their chests out, while the hens keep their heads lower and dont stretch their necks as much. you cant always guess a silkie by thier combs, leg diameter will work to an extent. cockerels and roosters have bigger legs. and if this helps, usually hens are fuzzier - again i can see it but i cant explain it.
Thanks for sharing that Silkie sexing info! I have 3 1-month olds in the brooder and there is one that walks more upright with his chest out. A tiny bit bigger as well. Hope you're right! It isn't often my luck I pick 2 pullets and 1 cockeral! LOL

 

[Chickawawa]

basque, they are young in these pics, the red gets darker and black gets more pronounced.






again they are young in these pics, but these are lemon cuckoo orpingtons, buff colored with white spots. there is a little trick to breeding these. two barred parents make beautiful roosters but not so great hens, if you start with a trio, get a barred rooster, one barred hen and one buff hen.

Are you bringing that trio of Basque by chance (she asks panting with anticipation!). LOL

Also, 6 Icelandic pullets (with possible cockeral added in) showed up on Craigslist around here. Thinking of getting them since I cannot find any Mottled Java to save myself. Any thoughts on the Icelandic breed? I am a sucker for the landrace breeds apparently.

 

[blessedchick]

Also on sexing silkies - look for the "streamers" on the roos; feathers that are more narrow and longer from the back of the crest.



You can see them on my boy, David, in this pic. Pullets have more of a rounded poofy crest without those additional feathers. Also the hackle feathers are longer on roos. Waiting for a crow or an egg is, of course, the most sure fired way to tell! Mine usually crow at 4 months and most of my girls are laying at 6 months (one was at 4 months last year - over achiever).

I wish I could make the swap...I have several young silkie and showgirl pairs that I would love to bring...

 

[bp11chickens]

I am in the middle of Mansfield and Lexington, Richland county.

 

[Chickawawa]

Looks like I am getting 6 (5 pullets and a roo) Icelandics! Hopefully picking up tomorrow! Yay!

 

[cluckitall]

I am in the middle of Mansfield and Lexington, Richland county.

Howdy, neighbor!

 

[cluckitall]

Basques






My roo was bad; he wouldn't stay with the hen

I hate to say, I'm still debating on coming down -- I didn't realize it was a three hour drive for me one-way! lol