Egluntyne Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Looking at the pointy hackle feathers I'd be inclined to think they are both boys.....but they haven't got as much face furniture as one might expect. Willow does look as if there might be some Buff Sussex ancestry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 thanks Eglutine I'am inclined to agree with you. There are hardly any wattles & comb at all @ 17 weeks which is very odd. I'd be interested to see how old Rusty Angels cockerel is in the other "hen or cock" thread as that one has loads of face furniture! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Here is a pic of a 18 week old cockerel...It looks nothing like your 2, like egluntine said your 2 have hardly any face furniture... That is a 18 week old Barnvelder cockerel who has just starting crowing. Good luck Lets just hope they are hens! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad house Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I think they are both hens. the comb is too smal for them to be cocks but im no expert Guess yu will soon find out, either by being woken up at 5 am by crowing or by a nice warm egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 You give me a small glimmer of hope Jo... Im coming around to the fact Willow might be a girl ....she looks different to Acorn and is very timid (loves cuddles though ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 They sound lovely Chelsea, how did you get on with intros to your other chooks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hope they are both girls Chelsea. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 , how did you get on with intros to your other chooks? they are still split into 2 groups at the moment. The big girls free range and circle the eglu so they know the new girls are there.....they also all preen together in a group (despite the eglu run being in between them! ) so they are all getting used to each other. Another thing we have done is whilst the big girls have the run of the garden the 2 little ones go into their walk in run....this way they get more room and get used to the smells/surroundings of the big run. I still think they are too little to be intergrated....after all my old girls are HUGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 That's why I thought you had already integrated them, 'cos the pics were of them in your big run! Some good ideas though, shall remember that when I get my new girlies Which maybe sooner than I think as we are down in Devon this w/e (the land of DTBC as you know!!), and he's letting me order a new elgu tomorrow!! Problem is if the DTBC have anything I like - where to put them for 2 nights as Eglu won't be here until Tuesday next week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 oooh, you lucky thing! You just know you are going to see something down there you'll like I checked their website last week and most of their birds were out of stock. Maybe you ought to ring them for an up to date idea of stock as I dont think they update their site very quickly. I love their birds down there, they are so healthy. Have you got a utility room or garage? I kept my maran in a dog crate under the kitchen table for 1 night when we 1st got her just until we had sorted out things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 When I called him today he didn't know exactly what he had as they've been closed for refurbishment and only opening again tomorrow. So as we will be in Devon anyway visiting the in-laws I thought I'd pay a visit He did say he had some Partridge Pekins but they're POL and I really wanted something younger, even if I have to use a heat lamp (been reading up on it!). But they only sell fom 8 weeks onwards. Depends whether I fall in love or not I guess - you know that feeling you get when you see that little face and just have to have it join your family!! I have a conservatory that we don't use much, also a summer house. And if I get tiny ones I have a large indoor guinea cage that I could use. Husband has just given me his CC number over the phone, he's away on a course and I think he's had a few beers - too late now I'm gonna order the Eglu tomorrow. I'm excited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Partridge pekins are gorgeous. My Mrs. Beeton is so friendly. You'll fall in love completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 my brother has a partridge pekin pair they are gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thank you both Janty I always follow your Mrs B's antics, as I totally love her too! I've also found a breeder that has 2 little black ones, 16 weeks old. Do you think POL PBs would be just as tameable as younger ones? I do love the colouring of the Partridges though. There's not a lot around this time of year Edited to say sorry to Chelsea as I've taken over her thread, getting carried away again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 how can you tell if they are boys or girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 how can you tell if they are boys or girls? I don't think you can with Pekins, until they are about 12 weeks old (so I'm told), so if I got them young I would be taking a risk. But if they were cockerals I would try my best to find good homes for them, being a purebreed and a very popular one at that, there may be a chance that someone would want them Failing that I know someone who could despatch them for me but that would be a really last resort. I'll probably get some older ones though as not many breeders seem to want to sell un-sexed birds.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thank you both Janty I always follow your Mrs B's antics, as I totally love her too! I've also found a breeder that has 2 little black ones, 16 weeks old. Do you think POL PBs would be just as tameable as younger ones? I do love the colouring of the Partridges though. There's not a lot around this time of year Edited to say sorry to Chelsea as I've taken over her thread, getting carried away again Mrs. B was POL when we bought her. I'd say go for it. Mrs. B came from a very small breeder who handles her birds a lot and she was very tame when we got her. I have p'md you with an idea . My pekins are lovely. They are real characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 In the programme on the telly that first raised my awareness of the plight of battery hens sexed day old chicks. The ones with pink legs were boys and they gassed them on the programme. i cried for a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I know blackgold, it's not pleasant, but the boy to girl ratio is normally around 60 - 40 percent (correct me if I'm wrong), so I guess breeders must do a similar thing, they have to get rid of the cockerals somehow as no-one wants them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Edited to say sorry to Chelsea as I've taken over her thread, getting carried away again You carry on! Im not worried in the slightest Just thought if you are in the area you might want to try here for hens... http://www.moonridgefarm.co.uk/ I havent visited there, but I know "half dozen" who posts on here got some of her hens from this breeder. I am very excited for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 So it is only certain breeds that can be sexed as daysold then? Sue xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 the 'autosexing' breeds - like the Cream Legbars can be distinguished at day old. From what I remember reading, they started out as a biology experiment! Other breeds are variously sexed at several weeks plus, that's why there are posts on here asking for Omlet opinions on whether a 'teenager' is a boy or girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Just thought if you are in the area you might want to try here for hens... http://www.moonridgefarm.co.uk/ Thanks Chelsea, I've e-mailed them, they look good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The good lifers Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Your Willow looks a lot like my goldline, I think she is a rhode island cross with light sussex, she is whiter at the back, but does have the odd black feather, she also looks quite long and streches her neck out! very pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Your Willow looks a lot like my goldline, I think she is a rhode island cross with light sussex, she is whiter at the back, but does have the odd black feather, she also looks quite long and streches her neck out! very pretty! Oooh, thanks for that goodlifers......you've made my day giving me hope she is a she! I really hope she is because she is blind in one eye, so no one would want her if she was a cockerel... Yes, she is pretty....lovely colouring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
