Rooster or Hen?

Corn instead of starving would probably help a chicken produce more body heat.
(So "corn keeps them warm" might be true for some chickens of the past, who would otherwise go hungry during a snowy winter.)

But a properly balanced food should keep chickens warm just as well as corn, and will also provide all the other nutrients the chickens need. (Properly balanced food: probably contains corn, soybeans, other ingredients, vitamin supplements, etc.)

And one major benefit of providing ONLY a properly balanced chicken feed that is in pellets or crumbles: no chicken can take the "best" bits, and no chicken is left with the "undesireable" bits, because all the bits are the same.
So the point about it being evenly mixed is indeed a valid point. With that being said, I like variety in my own diet. You could mash a bunch of chicken, potatoes, fruits, veggies, and nuts into a smooth mixture and it might be the most balanced diet for me. But if that's all I ever ate then I wouldn't be happy. I want my girls to enjoy themselves. Although i must say you use more logic in your arguments than some other people on this thread.

Regarding warmth - you are wrong, regular feed doesn't produce as much warmth as corn. This is a fact and you can research it if you want to learn more. Adding corn to the diet only during winter is a common thing for this exact reason. Furthermore, corn is a slow burn, meaning it breaks down slower and provides warmth for a longer period of time.

If my flock as a whole was having problems I would be more concerned about their diet. But if it is only one chicken that CLEARLY has genetic problems then I'm not going to worry too much.

I know it had genetic problems simply based on the fact that it is a rooster but also the lowest on the peck order (by far - it doesn't even come close to the next chicken). If it is a rooster and has had access to the same exact feed as the other chickens, you can't say the feed is the reason why every single one of my hens dominates this rooster. It is too afraid to peck them - i have never seen it peck another chicken in its whole entire lifetime. And if another chicken gives it a mean look then it instantly runs inside the coop in fear. It would be impossible for this to occur with a rooster unless it has genetic issues that make it not very fit to survive on its own.
 
So the point about it being evenly mixed is indeed a valid point. With that being said, I like variety in my own diet. You could mash a bunch of chicken, potatoes, fruits, veggies, and nuts into a smooth mixture and it might be the most balanced diet for me. But if that's all I ever ate then I wouldn't be happy. I want my girls to enjoy themselves. Although i must say you use more logic in your arguments than some other people on this thread.

Regarding warmth - you are wrong, regular feed doesn't produce as much warmth as corn. This is a fact and you can research it if you want to learn more. Adding corn to the diet only during winter is a common thing for this exact reason. Furthermore, corn is a slow burn, meaning it breaks down slower and provides warmth for a longer period of time.

If my flock as a whole was having problems I would be more concerned about their diet. But if it is only one chicken that CLEARLY has genetic problems then I'm not going to worry too much.

I know it had genetic problems simply based on the fact that it is a rooster but also the lowest on the peck order (by far - it doesn't even come close to the next chicken). If it is a rooster and has had access to the same exact feed as the other chickens, you can't say the feed is the reason why every single one of my hens dominates this rooster. It is too afraid to peck them - i have never seen it peck another chicken in its whole entire lifetime. And if another chicken gives it a mean look then it instantly runs inside the coop in fear. It would be impossible for this to occur with a rooster unless it has genetic issues that make it not very fit to survive on its own.
It’s funny that you insist this female bird is a rooster…
It has zero male traits.
It’s not a rooster.
 
Same breed?

You said Speckles is a Buckeye. Buckeyes have pea combs, and Speckles has a pea comb, so that seems right.

But Favorite does NOT have a pea comb. So Favorite is not a Buckeye.

(If Favorite was sold as a Buckeye, then either someone mis-identified that chick, or someone is breeding and selling "Buckeyes" that do not meet the breed standard.)

To me, Favorite looks like a Rhode Island Red.

It's quite possible although other birds in the flock seem more buckeye. I will message you pics of the other birds. Buckeyes have always been considered similar to RI Reds and the RI Reds popularity was a factor in Buckeyes almost becoming extinct. RI Reds are very common and I do live in Rhode Island so they are especially common out here. I wouldn't be surprised if the breeder out here also had an RI Red running around that got mixed in. I bought my chick's from Tractor Supply, 6 Buckeyes and 6 Isa Browns. I actually was planning on buying RI Reds but they were not available that day at Tractor Supply. So if it is in fact an RI Red I don't really care.
 
Yes it does the curved tail feathers, the very large body, the bony structure, the wide back. And those giant claws.
It has no curly tail feathers. Just frayed, bent ones.
All chickens have bones lol. And your bird is a normal size.
All chickens have big claws, too, for scratching.
I have a hen who is huge, with a huge comb and big feet. She attacks me and other chickens.
She lays lots of eggs though.
B193A419-D7AF-48A1-8A08-7A6F3E76A447.jpeg
 
Well, I do trust Shadrach as an expert in chicken behavior and keeping. And that Lav Orpington was well kept. Sometimes things don't develop correctly.

But I'll unfollow this thread and leave you guys to beat up the OP about diet.
These people on here think they know everything. Speckles made strange noises even when it was a baby chick. Always made noises suggesting it was extremely scared, it always was freaking out. And it really is the most cowardly chicken ever.

Don't worry about them beating me up, I train for combat every single day and I grew up in organized crime - I have been in multiple life or death combat situations. The last time somebody pulled a gun on me, I cracked open the back of his skull and he had to get 20 staples in the back of his head. And I didn't even use a weapon, I fought him with my bare hands. I generally always wear combat boots and tactical gear because I am always ready to kill without hesitation if necessary. Multiple people have tried to kill me so this is how I must live my life. Fortunately I don't live a criminal lifestyle anymore but I come from a very shady family and could be attacked simply due to tensions between other families in our network.
 
It has no curly tail feathers. Just frayed, bent ones.
All chickens have bones lol. And your bird is a normal size.
All chickens have big claws, too, for scratching.
I have a hen who is huge, with a huge comb and big feet. She attacks me and other chickens.
She lays lots of eggs though.
View attachment 2926074
Look closely at the curve. These tail feathers are just coming back in because they had all been pecked off when they were vent pecking it a couple months ago. They will be more curved soon and i will post again in a month.
 

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How old are your chickens?
The damage that is done by overfeeding chickens or giving them a severely unbalanced diet is not immediate.
It happens over time.
I'm not insulting you.
8 months but again Speckles has had serious problems since day one.
 

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