Unsure about both breed and gender!

[MrsH]

Hi,

I was wondering whether anyone could give me some avice on my lovely five month old chicken, Bluebell (that's her in my avatar pic!).

The lady at the farm where we got her referred to her as a "blue" something; the exct name escapes me - does anyone recognise the breed? She's grey with a tiny hint of light brown about the neck, and a couple of black feathers on her body.

I was also looking for reassuance that "she" isn't a rooster in disguise! All the redness about the face and the fact that she is top of the pecking order and has a very raucous cluck do worry me slightly! There's no tail fanciness going on, but since I'm unsure of the breed, I'm not really sure what to look out for.

She hasn't started laying yet, but neither have our other two girls, we're expecting eggs any day. Also, just this week she has been doing this "freezing" thing when you go to pick her up - head down, wings out slightly. I believe this is a submissive pose used when a rooster is about, so am taking it as a positive sign that she is in fact a pullet!

This is her with her friend Rose "hiding" in my vegetable patch!!

 

[ramirezframing]

a pic standing would help us on her breed

 

[ChickenPeep]

That is a hen for sure! at five months, she is getting ready to lay. Her color looks like self blue, maybe. I don't know what breed, though.

That thing your talking about is squatting. They do it when they're about to lay.

 

[MrsH]

OK, I managed to get a couple of her standing up, I'd really appreciate any feedback!!

 

[MrsH]

Hi Ebony,

Thanks so much for reassuring me, everyone has told me she looks like a rooster and I am so attached to her, I was really worrying that I'd have to get rid of her (don't think neighbours would appreciate a cockerel!)

How exciting that she is ready to lay!! We're all enjoying the chick-chicks so much that I keep forgetting that they will actually lay eggs at some point!!

MrsH

 

[donrae]

I'm not sure on the breed, but looking at the pics--does she really have two different colored legs, or is that just shadows?

She is a pullet all the way. I'd think she would be laying by now. If they range the yard, have you looked for nests in the bushes, etc? They don't always know they're supposed to lay in the nest boxes.