Coopers & PChants growing up! (picture heavy)

Thought I would share what is going on in my grower pen.
The Coopers are an interesting enterprise. I am enjoying the journey so far. Still lots of variety and I suspect it will be that way for a few years yet. Many different combs and some feathered legs still. I have some that have more feathered shanks than the F1s had. Very interesting.

So, here is one of the cockerels. Took so many pictures and only one of a boy. I had my first cull a couple of days ago, so not many older males left, just the younger ones.


Some of the pretty pullets.





Exhausting having your photo taken.....


Thought I would show you some of the PChants too. This is a good age for everyone to see pullets compared to cockerels. I don't go by comb as much as feather, body shape and leg thickness. I still have some the fool me, but I find the better quality the pullets get the more distinct the barring on them gets.

Interesting enough the cockerels prefer the front on, in your face kind of shot.





Some of the pretty ladies!







Here is a good shot to really see the difference between a cockerel feather and pullet feather around this age. She is younger, but you can still see how different they are.


I would call this a gaggle if I didn't know better!


I also have another little project I have been kicking around. I will not really be ready to introduce them until next years hatch, but here is a teaser for you!

The blue Coopers are very pretty!

Last year, after you told me how to tell whether my chick was a boy or a girl I went home and looked at his solid red breast - hopefully this year I get more of a variety, and those little fluffies running around out there aren't all cockerels!

I am curious about the new project ....

Glad I was able to help Kendra. Hopefully these pictures will help others too. It has taken me a couple of years to figure it out. I have to say that pullets that are not going to have good pencilling can fool you into thinking they are cockerels.
The new project will have to wait until next hatching season to see if it works!

Nice, Coopslave, those blues are looking very nice. I love when chickens look so intently at us when we take their photos. I have a pretty good guess what your mystery chicks are, smiling. Have a wonderful day, CynthiaM.

Looking good Coop! I love the gawky, teen stage. lol Also curious about your project...is that mottled I see?

Yes CynthiaM, you would have a very good guess at it!

Flicker, it is mottling. I am surprised it has showed up in the F1s, I think it is just juvenile mottling (we have spoken of this on another thread) at this stage, but I am interested to see their next feathers. I suspect they will be all black when they are finished, but wait until next year!!

I love the gawky, teen stage too! All the hope of things to come in a crazy looking package!

I thought so. I've never had a mottled bird (yet) myself, but find them really attractive.

Hehe, hope you plan on keeping the muffs and beards!

I have been meaning to post my coopers for the world to see, but my hard drive died and I have lost all photos, so need to start from scratch. Yours are looking good, but mine are cuter

I have a good guess at the project too.

coopslave wrote:

I love the gawky, teen stage too! All the hope of things to come in a crazy looking package!

Along with the dorky, gawky teen stage too, ever noticed how their voices change? Gone from the cute little peep sound to something, well, just gawky, no other word for it. Not an adult voice, nor a child voice. That is funny too. I need to get my camera and take some video of chicken voices one day. I started doing that once, but then lost that train of thought, somewhere down the road. Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

Those are some good lookin teenagers. Your little in "your face" cockerl makes me think of the toughest boy at the smokers pit. Makes me laugh when you get those character shots