So hard to decide who to keep!

[LateBirdFarms]

I'm always doing winded, sorry

So, I grabbed a few BR babies a few weeks ago, but I don't specifically know what I'm looking for when it comes to a nice looking BR... other than to know their parents were stunning examples of large, curious, bright eyed poultry. They were 6 weeks when I picked them up, and the boys were all very obvious from the girls, they appeared white with black striping instead of black with white striping and combs and wattles red for all the world to see, I got that part right, I hope! These gals are 8 weeks now, and despite spending the last week and a half hand feeding quietly, they're as skittish as all getgo! Has anyone else noticed this about their BR chicks? The parents were so calm and collected, is that something that comes with maturity? Two of these girls are total piglets and will eat like meaties given the chance!

I'm keeping the runt just because I like runts, and shes the only one that doesn't panic when she sees me coming.... But I can't decide which other one to keep! None of them scream "I've got personality!" at me, so its making it so much harder. Believe it or not I like making the irrational emotional choice, but there's no emotion jumping out at me here. Maybe I'm just tired of getting the stank eye when I take their feed dish at night.
I'll toss out some of the very poor pictures they allowed me to take at bedtime and ask y'all the big question....
If you had to pick just one of these pullets, which would you take and why?

#1 is in the very front, Chick #2 is standing, #3 is huddled at the very back. (Runt is crouched in front of #3)


#2


#2


#1 (Left) & #3 (Right)


#2 ( blurry #3 in bg)


Chick #1

 

[Mamatomany123]

Wait, I'm confused. Why arent you keeping them all? Chicks take much longer than 2 weeks to warm up to you. Even when I get day old chicks they dont start warming up until almost 4 weeks and that's with me handling them multiple times a day.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Wait, I'm confused. Why arent you keeping them all? Chicks take much longer than 2 weeks to warm up to you. Even when I get day old chicks they dont start warming up until almost 4 weeks and that's with me handling them multiple times a day.

Because I have other chicks and a full flock. I had the choice to take 4 or none. I want 2. This isn't my first rodeo, I do know it takes some chicks longer to warm up. Are you familiar with BRs and can point me in the right direction of who might be a better looking bird?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Because I have other chicks and a full flock. I had the choice to take 4 or none. I want 2. This isn't my first rodeo, I do know it takes some chicks longer to warm up. Are you familiar with BRs and can point me in the right direction of who might be a better looking bird?

Sorry, didnt mean for my first comment to sound rude, was just a little confused.

I think if I had to choose 1 more then I would pick the one that sticks with the runt most (since you're keeping her) I have a blind chicken and even though I had 7 pullets, just 1 was always by her side and still is.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Seems like the frequent hand feeding is having the opposite of desired effect and is freaking them out. Maybe slow down with that a little. It makes sense we as giant humans are scary to them. Just take it slow and give them all a chance to settle in before making any decisions is what I would do. Also observe how they act with each other and other flock members to factor into your decision for a friendly bird. Looks wise right now they are almost indistinguishable. I have some BRs I got as 3 day olds. I never really handled them, mostly just talked to them and spent time near them. They are the most inquisitive/fearless girls in my flock of 25ish. Always front and center. I don't think they are a flighty breed. Quite the opposite ime.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Sorry, didnt mean for my first comment to sound rude, was just a little confused.

I think if I had to choose 1 more then I would pick the one that sticks with the runt most (since you're keeping her) I have a blind chicken and even though I had 7 pullets, just 1 was always by her side and still is.

No worries, I could have probably worded my post better, wit and tone don't always travel well through text.
That's part of the problem, the runt hangs with the silkie chicks in the yard, but sleeps with the BRs at night. If she had a buddy in the group it would have made the decision moot!

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I don’t know much about BRs, but if it was me I’d keep #3. Don’t ask why—I have no clue

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I don’t know much about BRs, but if it was me I’d keep #3. Don’t ask why—I have no clue

Now theres a response I can understand! I can't tell them apart except for the tidier marking on the one beak, but I value your gut opinion greatly!

 

[arwoon]

I would go with no. 1 personally.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Seems like the frequent hand feeding is having the opposite of desired effect and is freaking them out. Maybe slow down with that a little. It makes sense we as giant humans are scary to them. Just take it slow and give them all a chance to settle in before making any decisions is what I would do. Also observe how they act with each other and other flock members to factor into your decision for a friendly bird. Looks wise right now they are almost indistinguishable. I have some BRs I got as 3 day olds. I never really handled them, mostly just talked to them and spent time near them. They are the most inquisitive/fearless girls in my flock of 25ish. Always front and center. I don't think they are a flighty breed. Quite the opposite ime.

View attachment 2618995

Hopefully my girls turn out as lovely as yours. I understand their fear, they startle easily, but they certainly don't fear me when they see the food bucket. I was merely saying that is the only trait they show at the moment other than gluttony. I'll be keeping them a few more weeks yet, hopefully they'll get used to me coming into the coop to do other things than feed them in the mean time. The only other chick I've had that's been so unsettled was a polish. I'm not a 10 year old who wanders in flailing my arms and squealing, I promise.