Small flock. Have questions. (VA)

[LaneRae]

We have a tiny flock of 6. 2 comet hens, 2 comet roos and 2 columbian speckled roos.

They are just 22 weeks and found their first 2 eggs today. I am going to assume that the roos are not going to get along with each other for much longer. Is this true? Even if it is I need to place a couple. How many should I place? How do I find hens in my area to purchase? How do I find homes for my extra roos that will not kill them? If that is possible.

Thank you,
Alayne

 

[Chooksaurus]

Many options, including:

Craigslist
Free classifieds
Posting ads at Feed Store
Swap Meets
Local message boards

 

[speckledhen]

Sometimes, you can't. You just have to try not to think about what will happen. And roosters that are crossbreeds like the Comets are harder to sell/give away, in my experience.


Never heard of a Columbian Speckled anything. Pics?

 

[LaneRae]

Oh..thank you for the replies. I will try them all! I know that I can't guarantee they will not be food, but I will give it a shot anyways.

I will get a pic of my columbian speckled roos tomorrow for you. Heck..I may go try and snap one now with the flash. They do not have full adult pulmage as far as I know yet. Have the bib, still have a white body yet and no pronounced tail feathers but they are really good looking in my opinion. Really big and fat compaired to some of the other chickens I have seen even older. I did a good job raising my first few.

I did find out the hard way that no matter how attached and good natured they are towards you to always wear shoes that cover your toes! Ouch! Hahahaha!

 

[acdoc]

try the valley trader or craigslist. I live in the vallley and i dont think it will be a problem getting rid of them

 

[LaneRae]

Here are pics of the chickens. They told me that the Columbians were "Speckled Columbian Sussex" and they are starting to get speckles on their bodies now.

 

[Southernbelle]

The Columbians look like hens to me.

And they're probably Plymouth Rocks. They don't have feathered legs, do they?

 

[lauralou]

They look like hens to me too.

Maybe it's not as bad as you thought!

 

[LaneRae]

Quote:
Hey if they are hens then I don't need to place them. I thought for sure they were roos though as they are only 23 weeks and have red combs...but these are my first chickens. Should I wait longer or how do I tell if they are hens or roos for sure? No feathering on legs at all.

Thanks again.
Alayne

 

[speckledhen]

That is most likely Lt. Sussex hen you posted. There are Speckled Sussex, which I have, and there are Lt. Sussex. That looks sort of like a Columbian Plymouth Rock, though. Light Sussex aren't all that common in the U.S.

Columbian Rocks have yellow legs and Lt. Sussex have white legs.


This is a Speckled Sussex hen: