Random_Girl66 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Time to introduce my new girls. I've had them 4 weeks now and they are around 14-15 weeks old. This is Cefa - black mottled pekin and Zanzibar - silver laced wyandotte bantam and Layla And here is Boots Two questions! 1) I'm finding quite a few loose feathers - is this normal for youngsters maybe growing adult feathers (look adult already really). A lot of feathers are from Zanzibar, the wyandotte, but there are others too. 2) I'm pretty sure Cefa (black mottled pekin) crowed at my twice a couple of days ago! She/he is supposed to be the same age as the others, they were all in the same run but she/he does look more advanced. Is she a he do you think?? If Cefa is a boy will I still be able to integrate them with my bigger girls once they are a bit older? Any thoughts welcomed, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Cefa looks like a girl, was it a full crow or just a complaint. They do lose feathers as they mature so shouldn't worry about that. They are beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 My pekin bantam was crowing loudly before that age, you could not mistake it He was also very well developed and red in the face. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Any pointy feathers coming around the saddle/front of tail area (should be narrow and pointy)? They're all very pretty birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Hi there!! Love your pekins!!!! I have 4 babies from my hatching adventure this year!!!! (had to re-home 3 boys!!!) 3 girls and a boy I'm hoping to be able to keep!!! Mine are, the oldest 11 wks and the other 3 are 9wks. Your mottled/millefleur is very red in the face, which usually takes 5-6 months in girls. My little boy who is 9 wks has been try out crowing.......sounds like a screech!!!! Just a couple of times in the morning!!!! He also tries to boss the girls and is definitely geting hackle feathers!!! If you look in the hatching posts you can see some pics of mine!! The lemon cuckoo is the boy. But time will tell!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random_Girl66 Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks all for your kind comments. Cefa hasn't made the crowing noise since so maybe it was just a shout. Can't see any pointy feathers! It shouldn't really be a problem if Cefa is a boy unless he makes a huge noise. We have neighbours but they are across the road so probably wouldn't hear him unless he was really loud . I guess I'll just have to wait and see how many eggs appear when they get to that stage. Mimi5, I took a quick peak at your pics - they look gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Hi Random Girl Not posted for a bit as getting too much like chicken fb for me Your little Boots is exactly like my little Bren. We were told she's a Buff but is it Lemon? Just curious . Lovely pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random_Girl66 Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Hi Roselady, Boots is actually slightly darker in real life - her colour doesn't show up well in the photo. I would say she is Buff - I think lemon is paler but I'm certainly no expert . An update on the crowing - it seems to be getting more regular! Usually around 6am . It's a bit of a squawk/crow but definitely a different noise to their usual "cheeps". I've let them meet the big girls a couple of times now - without the protection of the run. First time went well, they all ignored each other and mingled nicely. Second time I think they realised and the big girls starting chasing the little ones. Seemed to make them worse once the little ones started dashing about and flapping. I'll just take it slowly as recommended by the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random_Girl66 Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 This evening Cefa (the black/mottled pekin) was mounting Boots (the buff pekin)! Does this, along with the more frequent squawk/crowing provide unarguable proof that Cefa is in fact a boy?? Or could it be a sign of dominance in the group with Cefa trying to establish herself as top chook in that group?? As I said in my previous post, I will keep him unless he get's extremely noisy and the neighbours say something but I'd just like to know whether to call Cefa him or her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 cefa does look a bit boyish They will be getting their final adult feathers now so the loose feathers are normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...