Sexing Columbian Wyandotte chicks?

[Outrun Acres]

I also love the fact that you have a border collie in one of your pictures. I have two myself. Hopelessly addicted to those dogs!

 

[Melabella]

I also love the fact that you have a border collie in one of your pictures. I have two myself. Hopelessly addicted to those dogs!

He is actually an English Shepherd... similar in looks sort of,, but much different herding styles, They herd upright, loose eyed. More geared towards cattle, just as tough and gritty as the borders, but with a turn off switch! lol.. they are also incredible guardians of the home. Here is a better picture of Jackson.


I am only 13 weeks into raising this small little flock. I went total utility, non broody, and tried to get some friendly breeds so the kids could enjoy them. We have handled them since day 1, and they still run from us! lol...
Have 2 Columbian Wyandotte, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Red Sex Link, 2 Black Australorp, and two Rhode Island Red.

Hoping to have some eggs by the end of the year, fingers crossed. I know I didn't plan the timing out very well,, but they will be ready for earlly spring!

MB

 

[Outrun Acres]

He is a very beautiful dog. I have never seen that breed before. Sounds like they work similar to an Australian Shepherd. Have you done any trialing with him? I like the sound of the off switch. I have one that does and one that doesn't. I also have an Australian Kelpie that definitely has never even heard of the term "off-switch." Crazy dog. I know this forum is supposed to be about chickens, but just for fun I will post a picture of my dogs.

We are relatively new to raising chickens too. Our flock has been laying for about 5 or 6 weeks now. It is so much fun when you start getting eggs. One word of advice, if your chickens free range at all, when they start laying lock them in their coop/run for a couple of days so they understand they are supposed to use their nesting boxes. We still have one hen who likes to lay her eggs at the very top of our hay stack. It was fun for awhile, climbing up there to search for eggs. Now it's just frustrating!

 

[Melabella]

Oh what an awesome picture!!!!!

I love that! So, wait, let me get this straight... you have four dogs then? The beautiful LSGD in your avatar picture and these three guys? They look like such wonderful guys. LOVE the blk/white one on the right.. that's the Aussie? I would love to do some trials with Jackson, but know nothing about training,, and also how to go about it. I can figure out to train a horse to do anything, but anything past the basics with dogs is foriegn to me. Even the way he puts up the chickens is a bit unorthodox. He would rather be chaising his beloved tennis ball, so when I ask him to "put em in" he does it a bit too emphatically. In the beggining he would methodically move them at the walk, and pivit on his haunches. now it's more.. "come on, come on,, get in there" at a very brisk trot, run. I don't want him to injure them trying to move them. I have to put the leash back on him and start over. Remind him this is supposed to be a slow, controlled thing,, not so much exuberance.

I can't wait for eggs!!!!!!! SInce these guys are from a July 23 hatch, they are just starting their 15 week. I think my two red sex links, and even maybe the Austrolorps might go first. THeir waddles and combs starting to redden up. Not grow,, just gettinng far more color than before. Thanks for the reminder about closing them in for a bit. I have their nesting boxes closed off for now as I didn' twant them all sleeping in there. I have a few loner personalities that I know would love to sleep in there. I was going to see when they started squatting perhaps to take it off. I have TONS of places they could lay,, infact I probably would never see the eggs. Do your layers do what everyone refers to as the "egg song" before they lay. Did they start squatting before hand? How did you know they were laying.. just get lucky and find an egg?

Thanks for your help!

MB