What do you think???

[sharihern]

My brother brought home a couple bantam chicks about 6 weeks ago. We didn't know breed or exactly how old they were. My guess is they are 6-7 weeks old. I believe that one is a roo, and the other is a pullet. The one i believe is a roo (Clarke) is way more friendly and curious about everything, and more daring. He is my favorite of the 2. The other (Henrietta) is a scaredy chicken, and runs away from everything. I don't doubt that she's a girl. Clarke's body is smaller than Henrietta... I don't know if that's just a breed thing or what. His legs are thicker than Henriettas'.

Would I need to get more hens, or would I be ok with just the roo and pullet?



Their breeds I believe are a Silver Laced Wyandotte (Clarke) and a Cochin (Henrietta).



Am I right on my roo and pullet guess? Are those their breeds? or are they something else? These are my first chickens so I'm in the dark with a lot of stuff.



Sorry the pictures aren't the greatest, and Henrietta doesn't like getting her picture taken.

 

[chooks4life]

No idea about the breeds but the darker one's a roo for sure and the other looks like a hen.

As for the more females or not question, it mainly depends on him. The more instinct he shows in other areas, like finding food and nests for her etc, the less likely he is to have a serious want for more hens, because he has retained more of the ancestral instincts regarding providing for his mate and building a family with her, which in those more instinctive roosters is a full-time preoccupation.

If he's like this, as many bantam males are, and if she has no objection to him, they can be happy with just each other. You could probably add more hens without a problem too, if you like.

If she is the sort of hen who dislikes roosters, which is unlikely because she's not a commercial layer breed, then you'd probably need more hens as those sorts of anti-roo hens often have no use for nor interest in males, and many even lack instinct regarding what a male is. But I doubt you'd have that problem, I've yet to meet the banty female who doesn't want a mate, lol.

The more modern males of many high production commercial breeds have their instinct pool reduced to mating and a few other limited behaviors and do better with more hens as they're no use for anything but breeding and then being made into dinner. The hens of those breeds are also low instinct on average and are often happier without males around. Then there's the inbetween breeds like dual purposes etc, and the mix or no-breeds like mutts/mongrels, which almost as a rule have more instinct than high production commercials and therefore more need for one or multiple mates.

Also, there are different libido levels for different family lines within every breed. Every male and female can be graded on zero to 100 and this will also influence whether they get along or whether they don't. Generally speaking bantams are pretty instinctive and family oriented, and they should make a happy pair, if he's not one of those violent males whose mating and fighting instincts are mixed.

Best wishes.

 

[ramirezframing]

He is a silver laced sebright. She looks like a light brahma.

 

[Cyan Night]

He is a silver laced sebright. She looks like a light brahma.

X2

 

[dusica731]

He is a silver laced sebright. She looks like a light brahma.

X3

 

[fiefs20]

You are correct on your guess. The darker is a roo and lighter a pullet. I don't think you need to add more hens unless it shows through their dynamic that more would be beneficial.

 

[BantamLover21]

Clarke is a Silver Sebright cockerel. Henrietta looks like a Light Brahma pullet.

 

[sharihern]

Thank you everyone! Now that you've clued me in on what they both are it makes so much more sense! I was wondering about my roo's blue/grey legs and white tail feathers.... they didn't match what I thought he was, but Sebright explains it! Thank you!!!!