Wild Hope Homestead

The first little cockerel outed himself the day after my last blog post. And it wasn’t who I thought it would be. I was most surprised to discover the darker grey Australorp standing on top of the feed box trying to crow. I thought he was a girl! I thought all the Australorps were girls. This dude is the smallest of the lot. More feathers in his back than  I’m used to, no big feet, no big, red comb or wattles, a slim little thing with a skinny neck. I just couldn’t see the boy in him, aside from a rooster-like stance whilst in a crowy mood. I can see the feather development sexing theory requires closer inspection when dealing with new genetics compared to the more distinct Frodo line.

This threw me into confusion. Now, I’m peering at all the little chickens trying to figure out who is what. There is a definite difference in feathers between the blue boy and the lighter blue Australorp, so I’m quite sure she’s a girl. As for the others, I just don’t know at the moment. I think at least one of the black Australorps might be a boy, and quite likely the other black one and the splash one too. Annie, I’m not sure. There’s so much to do, so I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and watch them. Frodo has left them to their own devices now and they are quite capable of looking after themselves.

This is Mr Blue Australorp Cockerel. A scrawny little thing determined to announce himself. I can see some boy in him now but wouldn’t expect crowing with this lack of maturity!

Blue Boy again.

This is, I think, Miss Blue Australorp Pullet. She has a lot more feathering on her back than the little dude.

Blue Girl again.

Then, two more cockerels outed themselves. There were three little crowers one morning. Well, gurglers. The next two were not surprises to me: Silver and Ginger, the Sookie-Mr Bingley boys. Silver seems to be pulling rank at the moment, sitting up in the feijoa tree with the loudest and most frequent gurgle. Ginger thought he’d have a crack too, and after a few attempts, the biggest black Lorelai chick, sure to be a boy, came up to him and bopped him on the head. Ginger went quiet after that. I’m just hoping their ‘sister’ doesn’t start crowing now. As for the Lorelai-Mr Bingley babies, I’m thinking the other three black ones might be girls, and the blue one still a boy. I’m trying not to think about who is what too much, although it’s actually quite exciting being surprised! If only I could keep ’em all…

Mr Silver has outed himself.

“I’ll be wearing the pants, thank you.”

Mr Ginger (the ginger one) has outed himself. I’m quite fond of this little chap. That’s trouble. I’m guessing, L to R, girl, boy, boy, boy. boy.

I’m starting to think Sookie Jnr (right) might be a boy too. Silver is her full brother.

Don’t be a boy, Sookie Jnr! Wyandottes, or part-Wyandottes can be tricky. Especially since the different colours are bred on separate lines (usually). So I cannot compare the Sookie babies to the Lorelai babies. I just know Sookie Jnr developed her feathers significantly faster than the two boys…

I’m guessing, L to R, girl, girl, boy, boy, boy, girl, girl. I can’t really compare Annie (black Australorp on the right looking right) to the other Australorps because she’s from a different breeder, so I’m sticking with girl for now because she better be a girl!