The Poultry Keeper

scotwitch · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Location: S.E.London/Kent

Hi and Thankyou for any help/advice given Smile

I am now proud owner of 3 new hens, but after hearing so many names and seeing pics would like their type confirmed please Confused

My head is just spinning with chicken stuff as all i knew/know about them is boy or girl, big or small Embarassed

I got this one as a buff orpington

Buffy the slug slayer

the next two I have no idea other than Bantams, I was being shown a buff pekin when i spotted these and thought they were gorgeous and would help me and kids know who was who by being so different Confused

Thankyou again from a totally clueless newb.

CP · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

I'm no expert on breeds but the 2 bantams look like Pekins to me. The spotty one is a cuckoo colouring I believe. Wink

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 419 Location: Shetland

Hi Scotwitch,

Welcome to Poultry Keeper! You're in good company!

Agree with CP that the latter two look like Pekins, and yes the grey one is a cuckoo (if you see what I mean!).

As for Buffy the Slug Slayer - yes, that's a Buff Orpington. If I was a betting man, I'd say it was a young male Buff Orpington... look at that well developed comb and the beginning of a fine set of wattles...

I may be wrong of course, but if it was one of my young crowd of Orps, I'd be guessing it was a cockerel.

atb

Attila

scotwitch · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Location: S.E.London/Kent

Hi Attila, oh please no not a cockerel, not with the mess we made of starting up with them Embarassed

. Buffy was bought as a hen, the farm only usually sells in pairs/trios and 'she' was the one left so they let me have her singly. How long before i will know for definite what sex, before she/he starts crowing and I am hung drawn and quartered by the neighbours or worse have to tell my 8 year old that it has to live somewhere else angel12

Way to new to this to think of having sunday lunch Crying or Very sad

Thankyou for letting me know about the Pekin Bantams, makes it so much easier to read up on them if you have an idea where to start!

CP · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

How old is (s)he?

scotwitch · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Location: S.E.London/Kent

I'm not sure actually, I know she was younger than the other two hens I bought at time who were 16 & 18 weeks as the lady went to check if it was ok to put her in with them, they said due to her size it would be ok for her to eat the same food as them aswell. I think i will have to be a nuisance and phone them to ask. Seems I have so much to learn... I will let you know after i speak to them. Below is a picture of buffy (nestled bottom left) in with a Blue comet 18 weeks and rir x l.sussex 16 weeks

jessjess · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Derbyshire

What content chooks

scotwitch · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Location: S.E.London/Kent

Hubby rang farm for me (he's at work for the evening, I get to cook tea and feed and bed down the menagerie), apparently s/he is about 14 weeks and the pekins are about 10 weeks.

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 419 Location: Shetland

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1028 Location: Cornwall

The white and the black and white ones are supposed to be pekins I think, but they're not really a good shape either bone or feather. If you wanted to breed from them, I'd advise not to, they're really not a good example of the breed.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3204 Location: Monmouthshire

I'm afraid I have to agree that the Buff Orp is male. One look, but then I remembered I'd had trouble sexing them the only time I hatched any.However, when an experienced breeder says Male, I'd accept it. Pekins make lovely pets, so I wouldn't worry about conformation, particularly as you can't keep a cockerel so you won't be breeding.

nigel · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

without wishing to add to the gloom i'd have to say that it's a boy too.

If you don't want a cockerel is there any way you can take him back and exchange him, if not for another orpington for something else?

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 419 Location: Shetland

Cheers guys - I was beginning to think I was being unnecessarily harsh on it. But it still looks like a boy every time I go back to it.

Scotwitch, Nigel's suggestion is a good one - the breeder ought to replace him, as they know you took him in good faith thinking he was a female.

A bit of a shame for you all having got your hopes up that you'd got a Buff Orp girl. If you were nearer to me, I'd sort you out with a Buff lady, but we really couldn't live further away from one another!

Attila

minstrelmerrymaker · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 227 Location: ISLE OF WIGHT

sorry to agree, but i would also say your buff orp is a boy, if you bought it as a pullet they should exchange him for you. Smile

scotwitch · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7 Location: S.E.London/Kent

Thankyou all for your help!! The 'farm' people seem nice enough, they said I could take the lot (coop and birds) back if it was causing neighbour problems. I say farm as that is what its called, more a block or two of stables and a field for ducks & geese. They do have runs set up with pairs of chickens/bantams in but i think they buy in the majority of birds they sell. I have chatted with my little 'un and explained that Buffy may have to go back Crying or Very sad

(he is running to meet us already thinking we have more goodies.),so before we get even more attached we will take him back tomorrow and swap him for some more Pekin bantams (how did a chicken get so cute??). I am determined to have a buff orpington hen, Thankyou Attila for the offer but yes I think that is a bit further than I could get Hubby to drive me ( still trying to get over 2 slipped discs... courtesy of my little 'un), my mum was from just outside Stranraer and I havent managed to get him there yet!! Thankyou again for all your advise and help, I will post a picture of new babies asap.