Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Smokerbill]

The light colored is a cockerel sorry.
I had a early hatch lock down is suppose to be the 1st earliest this one was hatched last night.View attachment 3484526

Don't be sorry if it is a cockerel. I was hoping to get one out of my batch of eight. I asked about its gender here several weeks ago, and someone said that some Barred Rocks, from Hoover's I think, have been showing up with non-typical coloration. So maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Hope so, though.

 

[Smokerbill]

Im not sure that lighter one is a rock.

Here's a pic from a different angle.

 

[ValerieJ]

The light colored is a cockerel sorry.

How do you know that? Because of the color?

 

[Hinotori]

How do you know that? Because of the color?

On barred and cuckoo birds, males are lighter because the gene is on the sex chromosome Z. Males are ZZ and females are ZW. So 2 copies make for closer lines on the barring making for a lighter appearing bird.

 

[Smokerbill]

On barred and cuckoo birds, males are lighter because the gene is on the sex chromosome Z. Males are ZZ and females are ZW. So 2 copies make for closer lines on the barring making for a lighter appearing bird.

That's my understanding, too. Double barring on the males. But I'm guessing it's possible there can be some unusual variation in color from run of the mill hatchery birds too. So whatever it is, I'm happy. Still, I hope it's a cockerel. I'd like to have a self sustaining flock with a couple of hen-raised broods a year that I can raise up as meat birds.

It's so easy to lose time with the chicks. I must have spent an hour with them a little while ago, feeding them weeds, which a few of them totally loved, adding a new, challenging roost to the coop, and drinking a couple of beers. Good times!

The new roost is challenging becaus it's a 4 inch diameter section of a madrona branch. It's slick as heck and they have a hard time latching on. I figure the struggle will make them stronger! LOL

I watched as one of them saw a little gnat and chased it down. Sucker caught it and ate it, too! Very cool!

And another found a little red worm in the dirty roots of the weeds I gave them. Started running and cheeping... not very subtle, are they. Right after she swallowed it she went to the grit bowl and ate a few rocks. It's interesting how they instictively know what they need and when they need it.

I have a 50 foot roll of 1/2 inch hardware cloth and all the lumber I'll need to build my run. That project starts tomorrow.

One other thing, when I'm sitting in my chair watching them from the 2'x3' opening in the coop, there's one of them that's always looking over my shoulder. I know she's itching to fly over my shoulders and out of the coop.

I picked up 2 or 3 of them today, too, probably a couple times each. They are slowly getting used to their Hu Man. Which is nice.

 

[pennyJo1960]

They will show them selves to be quite smart. Birds are not bird brained just the opposite.
The light colored is a boy raise to be a great rooster. Also find a place he can be away from the girls give them a break when his hormones kick in.

 

[Smokerbill]

snip... Also find a place he can be away from the girls give them a break when his hormones kick in.

You mean like a separate coop and run?

 

[Hinotori]

You mean like a separate coop and run?

Only need to separate him if he gets too rough on the girls at maturity.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Yup I have a small coop. Use to have prefab coop.
Sold the darn thing it was so badly made.
Then built one next to the main coop it can only hold like 6 birds max.
Even a dog crate would do.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Some boys are great off the get go. Better to have a plan not use it.
Pallets can be used for a great start.