The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[jsmith2952]

Thanks for replying @lalaland...I read the same thing with the prepH. I was hoping there was something easier (like doing nothing!) Haha. Will keep you posted.

 

[Leahs Mom]

How to tell Male from Female in 7-14 day old chicks....
Comments, Please. Has anyone ever noticed this in your hatches? I never knew to look before just heard about it this spring so now I'm going to have to pay attention. Wondering if this is true or just another "chick legend".

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In most breeds the hens feather out way faster than the roosters. I have chicks in a week with a couple of roosters so I will keep my eye on tail feathers. Certain breeds like buff Orpingtons and cochins for sure I know the roosters will be bald for a few weeks while the hens are getting feathered. I will watch mine for tail feathers though and see.

 

[Leahs Mom]

In most breeds the hens feather out way faster than the roosters. I have chicks in a week with a couple of roosters so I will keep my eye on tail feathers. Certain breeds like buff Orpingtons and cochins for sure I know the roosters will be bald for a few weeks while the hens are getting feathered. I will watch mine for tail feathers though and see.

Thank you! I'll be interested to hear what you observe.

I have 6 week-old breeder-quality Buckeyes that I picked up at 3 days old. These kiddos ALL had amazing wing feathering the day I picked them up. I had picked up 31 - the rest of the order was for 2 other folks - so when I took mine from the box, we looked for any that were showing tail feathers because one of the folks I was sharing with had heard this about the tail feathers.

So now that they are 10-11 days old, I need to get out there and take some photos and band each one with a different color so I can observe.

It's so strange to have to band to tell babies apart...My last 2 chick additions were SFH (Swedish Flower Hens) and they all look different so you can usually tell who you're seeing as they grow!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you!  I'll be interested to hear what you observe.

I have 6 week-old breeder-quality Buckeyes that I picked up at 3 days old.  These kiddos ALL had amazing wing feathering the day I picked them up.  I had picked up 31 - the rest of the order was for 2 other folks - so when I took mine from the box, we looked for any that were showing tail feathers because one of the folks I was sharing with had heard this about the tail feathers.

So now that they are 10-11 days old, I need to get out there and take some photos and band each one with a different color so I can observe.

It's so strange to have to band to tell babies apart...My last 2 chick additions were SFH (Swedish Flower Hens) and they all look different so you can usually tell who you're seeing as they grow!

That's the reason I only keep a couple of each breed. It can take quite a while to figure out how to tell them apart, usually I use comb shape, but a bunch of buckeye would confound me too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's the reason I only keep a couple of each breed. It can take quite a while to figure out how to tell them apart, usually I use comb shape, but a bunch of buckeye would confound me too.

On this order, since they aren't sexed, I got six just in case 4 of them are cockerels! However, I've had a pretty good female/male ratio in the past (last 2 chick orders were 100% female) so I guess we'll see!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

On this order, since they aren't sexed, I got six just in case 4 of them are cockerels!  However, I've had a pretty good female/male ratio in the past (last 2 chick orders were 100% female) so I guess we'll see!

Hopefully your luck holds.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I should have noted that my SFH chicks appear to be 50/50...3 boys 3 girls...at current. I think I'll try keeping 1 SFH and 1 Buckeye roo.


Boy

This is "Whoopsie". I don't keep crested birds and she didn't look crested when she was a tiny chick. Girl I think.

Girl

Really like this boy's feathering so far.

Another Boy.

Looks like girl so far.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I like them all, they are all good looking. Why do you not keep crested birds? Aren't both types correct? I'm assuming it's just your preference. I would find it hard to not keep them all.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just preference.

My birds have to be able to see above easily as they free-range.

With SFH, if you have a crested-to-crested breeding you can end up with vaulted skull, excessive crest, and even death. This kiddo doesn't have either excessive or vaulted skull so she shouldn't have a problem w/free-range. I just don't want to take the chance that I would breed an excessive crest in the future. I've had one before that I literally trimmed the crest back so she could see. But she, and her mother, both had "skittish" personalities that made them "hawk-bait"...crest or no crest. I guess this kiddo will be my chance to see if the personality is "normal" in the crested birds.

@oldhenlikesdogs
How many birds do you have totally? How many are roos?