Please help me with my chickens!

[mparry]

Hello!

I'm new to the world of raising chickens and to BYC.

My son's Kindy had hatchlings and we adopted four cute babies. They told me that they were Light Sussex and a Lohmann. I've been researching as much as I can over the past month as to whether I actually have those breeds and their gender. The hatchling company didn't sound happy that I called her and was even grumpier when I asked her questions. She said they were definitely light sussex and lohmann but towards the end she said that they would throw in whatever breed to "make up numbers".

Anyway.... I'd just like to know what my babies are and if we have girls We're not allowed to have roosters in my area but I am suspicious that I have some boys in my group. They're roughly 7-8 weeks old.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Michelle

 

[mparry]

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The one on the left looks like a cockerel at least.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

It really looks to me like you have three White Leghorn cockerels and a Lohmann pullet. I think Light Sussex would be showing black feathers in the hackles by now, and Sussex have white skin. Your cockerels have yellow skin.

 

[mparry]

Two of my "light sussex".

 

[mparry]

It really looks to me like you have three White Leghorn cockerels and a Lohmann pullet. I think Light Sussex would be showing black feathers in the hackles by now, and Sussex have white skin. Your cockerels have yellow skin.

Thank you for your help. I had a feeling I had three boys and that they were leghorns Two of them have speckled brown/red feathers on their wing and the other is pure white. I assumed the black feathers would've showed up by now if they were light sussex.

Looks like I'll have to find them a new home

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Two of my "light sussex".

OK, I take it back--I didn't see the red on the wings. Not White Leghorn. Red Sex Link cockerels (your Lohmann are a type of Red Sex Link) most likely. Could also be a production hybrid with white Leghorn in it. I'm not sure what commercial hybrids are available in Australia.

Oh, and welcome to BYC! Wish we had better news for you.

 

[mparry]

OK, I take it back--I didn't see the red on the wings. Not White Leghorn. Red Sex Link cockerels (your Lohmann are a type of Red Sex Link) most likely. Could also be a production hybrid with white Leghorn in it. I'm not sure what commercial hybrids are available in Australia.

Oh, and welcome to BYC! Wish we had better news for you.

That's ok and thank you for the welcome. The company I got them from was very coy about information and annoyed that I rang so I can't offer any further info. I did find another member on BYC who had chickens identical to mine but even so, if I have roosters then I can't keep them

My nest question is whether I let them go now or later? I would like to see them grow up a bit more as I've never had chickens before but I'm afraid if they start getting "more" aggressive. All three of them are chest bumping, raising their neck feathers and pecking but I'm worried they'll start reacting to my two little kids.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

That's ok and thank you for the welcome. The company I got them from was very coy about information and annoyed that I rang so I can't offer any further info. I did find another member on BYC who had chickens identical to mine but even so, if I have roosters then I can't keep them

My nest question is whether I let them go now or later? I would like to see them grow up a bit more as I've never had chickens before but I'm afraid if they start getting "more" aggressive. All three of them are chest bumping, raising their neck feathers and pecking but I'm worried they'll start reacting to my two little kids.

I would get rid of them sooner rather than later, especially since you don't have a need for a rooster and you have little kids. Or at the very least get rid of two of them and keep one--but it will be harder to part with him once you've had him for a while.

Get rid of the cockerels and get a few older pullets to give your Lohmann some company. She's going to be sad all alone.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's up to you but I let them grow out a little and process them shortly after they start crowing. That way they get to live a while as a chicken and I still benefit from the feed and care.
Even the pullets will chest bump at that age.