Small flock. Have questions. (VA)

[kuntrygirl]

Have you heard any crowing from the ones that you think are roosters?

 

[lauralou]

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

They just LOOK hennish. Notice their back ends. They have a puffy cushion of feathers there. And no saddle feathers. Saddle feathers are the feathers that a roo has on his back/rump area that hang down over his side. It's very noticeable when you know what to look for. And those girls don't show it at all.

Twenty-three weeks is plenty old for them to have red faces. I wouldn't be surprised if you start getting more than 2 eggs in a day very soon. I definitely wouldn't get rid of the white/Columbians, or the red ones either. Those are certainly girls, too. I have a red sex link that looks just like them. And she is my best egglayer.

What good news for you! Congrats!

 

[Grammahen]

They all look like hens to me. Hope I'm right!

 

[ve]

You have 4 hens and 2 boys.What color leggs Columbian birds have?beak looks yelow on picture.If the leggs are yelow they vare Columbian Rocks,if white -Light Sussex

 

[lauralou]

I found a pic that might help to show you what I'm talking about with the saddle feathers.

This is a 15 week old Welsummer cockerel. Notice the bright orange feathers hanging over his back at the base of his tail? Saddle feathers. They would be longer on an older bird.

Besides that, doesn't he just look like a roo? LOL

There are other ways to tell, but that's the easiest from a distance. Here's a quick way to get a bead on it, look through this thread. It's a Rooster Show.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=169842

Also, roos should really be mating the hens like crazy at 23 weeks! Are you seeing that at all?

 

[LaneRae]

Quote:
Oh wow! I was going to bet they were young roos as they had large waddles (?) and red there and on the combs, but so are your hens. Then what does a roo of the same age look like.

Mine have yellow legs. Then what on earth do I have? Columbian something...that is for sure. They are very very sweet, I can tell you that. They still come right over to me wanting to be held.

 

[LaneRae]

Quote:
One of the comet roos is crowing his head off. I knew he was a roo a long time ago. The other comet roo (we call him PETA as a joke as he refuses ANY live or moving feed) hasn't crowed as far as I know. He is the last in the pecking order I think and always aloof. The two Columbians haven't but if they are hens the that would tell me why!

 

[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

They just LOOK hennish. Notice their back ends. They have a puffy cushion of feathers there. And no saddle feathers. Saddle feathers are the feathers that a roo has on his back/rump area that hang down over his side. It's very noticeable when you know what to look for. And those girls don't show it at all.

Twenty-three weeks is plenty old for them to have red faces. I wouldn't be surprised if you start getting more than 2 eggs in a day very soon. I definitely wouldn't get rid of the white/Columbians, or the red ones either. Those are certainly girls, too. I have a red sex link that looks just like them. And she is my best egglayer.

What good news for you! Congrats!

WE HAVE 2 EGGS!!! I don't know who laid them but we have them. A bit smaller than normal and brown. YAYAYAYAYAY! I will keep the Columbians then!

 

[LaneRae]

Quote:
Not sure about the color of eggs yet. We found the first two eggs and I am not sure who laid them. I must have Rocks then because they all have yellow legs.

 

[LaneRae]

Quote:
Thank you so much for the link and the pic of the roo. I ran out to see my roos and I see what you mean. The Columbian...whatevers..don't have any feathers there. I bet they are hens.

I have not seen any breeding going on. But it is hot here and they usually hang in the coop most of the day where it is cool and come out only in the morning and in the evening so who knows what is going on behind closed doors!!