What is this chicken breed please?

[Big Al]

Can anyone tell me what this chicken is and about how old it looks. Admittedly I've done no searching myself as I need to build a coup before nightfall...... my thoughts were a bantam but it's to big apparently and then a black rock but what do I know



http://flic.kr/p/8Bd63o

http://flic.kr/p/8Bd62q

Ta muchy

[Masco&Bongo]

Speckeldy maybe?

[Big Al]

Thanks folks, I was chasing it round the garden when I was taking the photo it's now in the coup all on it's own so I'll have to tell the wife that hens need companions... at least 5 I reckon...

[Keaniebean]

Big Al I've had a look in my chicken encyclopaedia ( yes,I am that sad ) and it looks like it could be a Maran bantam hen, brassy black to me. it looks very young too, maybe around 16 -20 weeks, but i wouldn't bet my life on it.

Edited to say I just had alook on the internet for an image for you but they don't look like the image in my book so I'm extra unsure now.

[Big Al]

Thanks KB. I'll take another photo tomorrow as her colours are becoming more distinct. Next question is can you mix bantams ( if she is a bantam) with full size hens? one other point of note is she cheaps rather than clucks..... honest she does.

[Keaniebean]

You can mix bantams with hens ( I presume you mean in the coop, as opposed to breeding ), but you need to be very careful about introductions and mixing ages.

Have you had a look at this forum, you might get some good chook advice there.

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/

I think it's a bit like the bread question, ask 10 different people how to bake a loaf and you will get 10 different answers. I feel as long as you have the ability to keep them separate if there is any nastiness then you are nothing lost in trying.

Hope this helps.xx

[Big Al]

Thanks Sarah.

Any nastiness and the oven is waiting......

[bean gardenin']

I used to have a pair of bantums that looked like yours - they were Partridge Pekins.

[red]

looks like a cross to me....

[madabouthens]

Hi Al, if the hen cheeps then it is probably not mature, as for the breed, could be a heinzzzzz 57 ! Tony

[Big Al]

Hi folks,
Thanks for the input into my chicken breed.

I took a photo up to our local chicken seller / breeder and he said it is probably a heinz 57 in so much as it has a lot of black rock in it but what else is open to debate. It looks very much like the durham blacks he has for sale so I reckon it's a toyha special.

As for the age he reckons it will be less than 8 weeks of age.

Sat there all alone was a goldline so I took that at a discount and he cliped a wing for me so now we have two........ All I haI have to do is tell the wife when she comes in from footie, lol...

Considering this bird is about 8 weeks older the original is a fiesty littler bugger who is putting in her mark for pecking order.