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Help me with my "mystery" brood!

post #1 of 7
10/15/12 at 8:42pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Everyone!

We received our first ever newborn chicks three weeks ago from a friend who just started hatching eggs. She believed all of these were female, but had no idea on the breeds. I appreciate any help I can get! 

 

 

Our best guess for this one is a Buff Minorca. She is HUGE!

 

 

This is the one I wonder about being a boy. "Her" tailfeathers are pretty long and straight for a girl, but I am a total novice at this. She has just a few black spots, but is otherwise white. Maybe a California Leghorn?

 

 

Our best guess is a Brahma for this one. She's also much smaller than the other two, but we can't tell if that makes her a Bantam or if the other two are just big breeds. Thanks in advance for any help!


Edited by woostephclan - 10/16/12 at 8:49pm
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post #2 of 7
10/15/12 at 8:44pm

Not sure on breeds, but first pic is possible cockerel due to slow feathering out at 5 weeks.

Married to wife of 18yrs, 19yo and 17yo boys(One EOD in Army, other in HS), Australian Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog mix, 2 dumb cats that hate each other(at least the fighting stopped), 29 chickens

 

Jesus is Lord, I am not!!!!

 

ASBC member

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Married to wife of 18yrs, 19yo and 17yo boys(One EOD in Army, other in HS), Australian Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog mix, 2 dumb cats that hate each other(at least the fighting stopped), 29 chickens

 

Jesus is Lord, I am not!!!!

 

ASBC member

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post #3 of 7
10/15/12 at 8:55pm

Cute kids!

 

The first chick has fluffy cheeks and a beard, a nice hefty build, and I think I am seeing a greenish tint to the legs.  These are making me think Easter Egger.  Chick #2 may also have fluffy cheeks but doesn't appear bearded, has a lighter build, and the legs may be tinted but I can't really say for sure.  The white coloration with random black feathers may be splash coloration or just a "leaky" dominant white; I'd expect this one to develop more dark feathers over time and may end up with a Dalmatian dog "spotted" effect that's quite elegant.  Both #1 and #2 I'm having a hard time seeing the combs, but if they are pea then that's another vote in favor of an Easter Egger parent.  

 

Chick #3 is quite different and appears to have tremendously feathered feet, which is a trait that could match Brahma (which also comes in bantam) or may be something else, like Cochin or d'Uccle.  Comb appears to be single.  If she's markedly smaller than the others then she could very well be a bantam.

 

It will be interesting to see how these three feather out and grow in the coming weeks!  Congratulations on your new birds! smile.png

A barrel full of monkeys has nothing on a coop full of chickens.
http://hentracks-chickenchronicles.blogspot.com/
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A barrel full of monkeys has nothing on a coop full of chickens.
http://hentracks-chickenchronicles.blogspot.com/
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post #4 of 7
10/15/12 at 9:11pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the good tips! You probably can't see it well in the photo, but the first two chicks are very pink on their feet and beaks, and both have always had a visible comb that's grown with time. Keep the good ideas coming!!

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post #5 of 7
10/15/12 at 9:16pm

They all look like barnyard crosses to me.  The first two i would guess are EE crosses given the beard/muffs and yellow legs.  I can't tell what kind of combs they have.  The last one looks like a D'Uccle cross with the way its legs are feathered and with the single comb.

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post #6 of 7
10/16/12 at 2:13am

what breeds does your friend have?

silkies and (projects), sumatras, lakenvelders, frizzles, polish and (projects), sultans, buff orps, black sexlinks, turkeys, red golden pheasents, Peepers, dogs, cats, fish, horses, wild kids, and one very understanding DH, come on over for a visit to the crazy farm

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silkies and (projects), sumatras, lakenvelders, frizzles, polish and (projects), sultans, buff orps, black sexlinks, turkeys, red golden pheasents, Peepers, dogs, cats, fish, horses, wild kids, and one very understanding DH, come on over for a visit to the crazy farm

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post #7 of 7
10/16/12 at 6:33am
Thread Starter 

That's what makes this a true mystery. All the eggs were given to her by someone else. I know there were some rare breeds among all the baby chicks though.

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › What Breed Or Gender is This? › Help me with my "mystery" brood!