speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Hello everyone Well I was out in the garden this afternoon and got the shock of my life when I heard a cock a doodle doo, we have no other chooks in the area, we have 7 girls. Anyway, hubby and I went to find the girls only to see Mabel crow. We got her/him at the end of April, we was told she was POL. I had only commented last night about how big she was getting and that her head gear was very red and obvious. So am I right that hens don't crow???? Why has it taken this long? can she/he damage my other girls who are much smaller than her. What shall I do? Any come back with the breeder? Sorry for all the questions, Im a bit upset really as it took me ages to locate an orpington in the first place and we are rather attached now Thanks Guys x Ps. I guess this explains why she has been pinning marigold down with her claws! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 do you have any photos you can post?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 What's the quickest way of getting a pic on the board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 you can upload a photo to somewhere like Photobucket and then copy the img code to this board... sorry I am useless at explaining these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 OK will give it a go, hubby is in the run as we speak trying to get her/him to pose for the camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 Hope this works http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/99065834aae3bc0bca554b5fea05e252f1ab6a631eaa74f00cb31dfde594faec5184f025.jpg http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/15285947c4a11900eb0d069e68ed3ebf4736c7ff585814f8e7ee570e36a4d0aba2beec32.jpg What do you think?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) the photos are really small so it would be hard to tell, can you post up something larger? with all the chook in the frame? edit... how old did you say in weeks he/she is supposed to be? Edited September 6, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 If you highlight the link and click on the Img tag you get pics! They are a bit small to tell but she does look a bit blokey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Looks manly to me, I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/77572968c32fc054e34d93b61bfc22ea0c230ee9940cd7e6df9af30da0b7e4062de2f1e7.jpg http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/84595597524b6df3b3e240ae2797963a8ddb774d2d5670b46ad5a3acb8d4ee1d999609db.jpg http://img4012.photobox.co.uk/84327453f02bdf8c0dd392f0e78496de91bf99083eb5325ffdf8fa09115abe77a92a8306.jpg Any better? I have enlarged them a bit and added one We have had them for 17 weeks, not sure how old she was, supposed to be pol but not sure. Edited September 6, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 definatley a lot more face furniture than my 20 weeks orp girlies. but they are younger than yours I think. I would have my doubts about it being a girl with face furniture looking like that too. When the breeder said POL did he/she give you an age in weeks? edit having said that Palmer07 has orps and one of hers has great face furniture... the fact the he/she jumps on the other hens backs is not a true indicator as hens can do this too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Any better? Loads better! Definitely looks like a boy though I would certainly contact the breeder - any good breeder will know that some hens are harder to sex than others and will have back or exchange any that prove to be cockerels. If you get no joy you will know not to go back there again. You could try on the Practical Poultry forum, or selling him through the Omlet marketplace. Buff orps are lovely birds so someone might be keen to take him as a stud. Otherwise you could try a local farm park or petting zoo. Hope you get sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 If she is a he can he damage my much smaller girls? We live in the sticks so the noise shouldn't be a problem. Should I contact the breeder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 having just seen the extra photos you added I would definately say boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 I would say chap too, look at those feathers swooping down. My Orps girls don`t have those swooping feathers. Are his/her neck feathers rounded or pointy? Great news though that you can keep him! How much smaller are your other girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 The other girls are quite a lot smaller, the shetland in particular. Mabel has always been very cuddly until about 6 weeks ago, she stopped allowing us to cuddle her and will not go in the run at night until the others are settled, she will run off and then in 15 mins or so go and stand next to the run and allow me to open the door So quite a character that I would like to keep if safe for the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolateeclaire Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Zena our huge black Orphington has also started crowing. I was worried but have been told, on this forum, that it is normal for the dominant female to crow!! Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Does she look like a girl?? Opinion is that my Mabel looks like a boy, really hoping I can keep her but worried she will be a bit too much for the girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 unfortunately I can't see the pictures but it must be possible to tell by now (around 7-8 months old?) if Mabel is a girl or a boy. Have you tried looking at other photos of orps on the internet - www.feathersite.com is a good one. Also, if its a full blooded loud crow then he is a he. Presuming he/she is a LF then you might find problems with your girls in terms of size. Our LF orp boy certainly preferred my largest orps to start with, but then once he'd worked out that the smaller freckled things were also hens he jumped on them without any hesitation. He doesn't seem bothered with the bantam if she happens to be out. If you want to keep him, I would suggest you monitor the situation and see how the girls cope. You have a selection of girls which should help spread his attentions, tho some cockerals do have favourites. One thing you should also consider, particularly for the smaller girls, is a saddle. This goes over the hen's back to protect her as his spurs can do damage as he grips on. Those (usually smaller) girls with fewer feathers on their backs suffer first/most. You can get leather ones, but canvas is much cheaper (but still very effective). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speckled hen Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Well Im pretty much certain she is a he. I have just spoken to the breeder who I have to say is a really lovely chap, he is more than happy to provide me with a girl (just need to choose a colour!) We have decided to wait a couple of weeks and see how he settles in, if ok we will keep him if not we will take him back, although that means he will be off to the auction so might have to check out the local petting farm etc first. Next problem, can one orp be introduced on her own or do we need more?????!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Its definitely best to introduce more than one at a time, particularly one orp to a mixed bunch as orps are docile and can get picked on. Two newbies will tend to pair up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't see the pictures! What's gone wrong? Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
