What do i have here?

[mspat37]

This is my Lucy Oct 2

 

[drumstick diva]

regarding breeds x 2 donrae's opinions

 

[rebrascora]

From those close up photos, my gut feeling is that the dark colouring on their combs is probably fine dust. There are a couple of photos where you can see the front part of their wattles are a normal red colour and I would guess the dirt has been washed off those bits when they have been drinking as they would trail in the water dish.

If you only have 2 hens, then you really will be best advised to get rid of that new cockerel.

 

[mspat37]

From those close up photos, my gut feeling is that the dark colouring on their combs is probably fine dust. There are a couple of photos where you can see the front part of their wattles are a normal red colour and I would guess the dirt has been washed off those bits when they have been drinking as they would trail in the water dish.

If you only have 2 hens, then you really will be best advised to get rid of that new cockerel.

I Will Get Rid Of Them. I really only wanted hens. But when the silky turned out to be a rooster I decided to keep him. The two new ones were, I felt as though I was saving them , so I took them. I will get rid of the big Cockrell as you call it. I love my little chicks the Americana is the only one laying eggs so far and it has been so exciting for me to get them. I am almost 50 and feel like I have learned a lot through these chicks. Thank you thank you thank you so much for all your advice I really appreciate it. Also have you ever seen a rooster lay like it's laying an egg? I'm sending you a picture. That's silky seems to think he is the American is the one and only and he lays Where She lays eggs. LOL

 

[mspat37]

 

[rebrascora]

It is part of a rooster's duties to suss out suitable nesting sites for his ladies, particularly young pullets who don't know what they are doing. I liken it to a young couple house hunting..... he will escort her to the nest box and get into it and rearrange it and snuggle down into it and sometimes make encouraging noises whilst she watches. I even wonder if part of it is actually warming it up for her. Not all roosters do this and sometimes if there are older hens and no roosters, they will do it, to show the young girls where to lay. They really are fascinating creatures.

It's a noble idea to be "saving" animals, but not to put at risk or at the expense of the ones you already have. I think you are probably making the right decision to get rid of them both, if you have no use for them. The hens will be a lot less stressed without them, although they may initially be a bit unsettled by the reduction in their flock size, with it being such a small flock already. There may be a point in the future when you feel that you are ready to add a rooster and perhaps raise some chicks from your own flock but roosters are easy to come by and best acquired once you have built up some experience and knowledge.
It is a big learning curve that we are all on and it can be quite daunting occasionally and we all get it wrong sometimes and hopefully learn from those situations, but there is a wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum to help us when we feel that we are floundering. I have gained hugely from reading the problems and experiences of others in the past few years as well as making my own mistakes.

Good luck with your little flock.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[henny1129]

I'm sorry you are going to have to get rid of that cockerel, but it's probably for the best. And your birds you have are lovely by the way! And don't worry, many of us, including me, learn from all the mistakes we've made. @rebrascora, thank you for helping, I was really not sure what that black was and, like I said, sickness is not my strong point in chickens.