Any ideas on breed?

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Hi all
was just wondering what breed this hen(I hope :? ) is. when I got her in september she was so starved and ill she couldn't even walk I have never seen a bird so thin and still be alive. she was under half the size she is now. my pekins were bigger than her. I rescued her from a friend(or so I thought) who had not been feeding them and talked her into letting me take them. I only have a small garden so a neighbour took most of them for me but i kept this one as didn't expect her to live to be honest and felt responsable as I'd helped the owner get the chickens as she was really keen to keep some after seeing mine. but I guess she just got bored of them. anyway now she is actually starting to look like a chicken I was just wondering what she might be?
 

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hi Stepyone,
she looks like a Rhode Island Red to me,they do grow quite big,my one is the biggest chook I've got.
 
Hi. thanks I did wonder if she might be although she is a bit small for a RIR but then she didn't get the best start
 
you've done a fabulous job with her,your post gives the impresion that you feel quilty because your friend didn't look after them.
None of what your friend did or didn't do is your fault.I'm assuming they are an adult so should be capable of caring properly for any pets/livestock.DON'T feel guilty.
Also,although she may be smaller,even people who breed for showing are going to get the odd few that are smaller,they just haven't inherited the genes from their parents to grow large.
My R.I.R. is huge,but,at poultry shows I haven't yet seen a hen R.I.R. as big as her.
Not being fed enough,or the correct diet may have stunted her growth,but,it is more likely she was going to be smaller anyway.Do you know if she came from show breeding lines or utility lines?
 
Don't know anything about her really she was amoung 8 chicks bought at a local auction that I took my friend to as she wanted bigger chooks and I only had pekins. I gave her 2 pairs of pekins that I bred myself to get her started then summer this year hatched some maran eggs for her and took her to auctions so she got some chicks. late summer she told me 3 had died as her daughter should of been feeding them but hadn't ( they were kept on a plot of land a couple of miles from where she lives. she was upset and told me from then on she would make sure not to rely on anyone else and would care for them herself. It wasn't until a few months ago I casually asked if she was still getting any eggs as she sometimes took some to work and hadn't for some time. she said dont ask as is sore point as 3 had died that weekend. this set alarm bells off with me and I asked if I could have the pekins I gave her back. she agreed and although she sed she would bring them to me I told her I would pick them up. I was horrified with what I saw as only 1 of the 4 pekins was still there and it was very thin and had scaley leg. most of the others just stood with there eyes shut so the next day I talked her into giving me the rest that were left as was only half the amount left so had lost a lot more than she told me. we still talk at work but am no longer friendly with her. she is in her late 40's so there are no excuses. I feel guilty as I sent those chooks over there thinking they would be cared for and all I did was to send most of them to die. 1 that I took didn't recover but enough of me rambling on, at least the others are really picking up well, the marans are looking great now, and never thought this little red one in the pic would come round but she is even starting to grow a tail now
 
That is really sad,it is even more horrid when you bred the pekins yourself.I do wish once we've either sold or given a pet away, if people find it too much trouble, or just don't want it anymore they would let us know so we have the chance to have them back.
None of it was your fault though,you were helping someone out who let the hens down,you and themself.I suspect she got bored of travelling to see to them,but,even if they were in her back garden she may still have neglected them.
Tim mentioned in another post about having a 'name and shame' section,so people, either breeders or buyers who neglect their stock, we could avoid either buying from them, or selling to them.
Personally,I think this would be a good idea.Unsuspecting buyers may be able to avoid bad breeders,and likewise,caring breeders can avoid people who neglect their stock.
It must have been a very distressing experience for you,but you did your best for the birds you took back,and certainly saved them from death.Don't let this nasty experience put you off other buyers,the majority are caring and genuinely want them and will do their best for them.
Well done on getting them well again.really pleased that they've improved so much.
The chooks must think they're in heaven now :D .
 
I would like to add just a bit here too if I may.

See how pale her face, comb and wattles are? Also the feathering looks unkept like she is not preening as she should and keeping them in top condition. I would almost bet that she has worms and that could be part of the reason the birds were not laying too.

What I would suggest is to have a vet do what is called a fecal float test to check for parasites if you can find a vet that would do it within reason as far as cost.

Of course it would be much cheaper to just worm her but for her first worming I would use a good chemical wormer until you get them cleared and then do maintence with the organic wormer.

A bird can have a big worm load without showing outward signs such as passing worms or having blood in the poop.

Free range birds are more likely to get worms because they are grazing the same ground that wild birds do.
 
Thanks for the advice, she is nowhere near as pale as she was when I got her, her face/comb was white and feathers are impriving as were very scruffy and she had no tail and wing feathers were all over the place. so although she looks bad you would think she looked great compared to how she was. Good idea on worming will worm her and her pals at the weekend just to be on the safe side. if she keeps improving I'll post another pic of her in the summer hopefully looking as she should do
 
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