NH reds - color difference between the sexes?

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pathognomonic

pathognomonic

Songster
7 Years
Jun 9, 2013
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I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet, but I have 4 New Hampshire chicks that are about 10 weeks old and there is a definite color difference. Three are light red while the fourth is much darker red, much like the color of a mature Rhode Island Red.
 
All my NH (hatchery quality) are more of an orange red my RIR are definitely a brownish red. So maybe they made a mistake and gave you an RIR, as chicks my NH were blonde yellow, whereas my RIR were reddish yellow. Was the fourth one a different tint as a chick?
 
Technically speaking there is little difference between hatchery grade New Hampshires, hatchery grade Rhode Island Reds, and Production Reds. It really comes down to a matter of semantics. If they are a light chestnut color with profuse black tail feathers the hatcheries generally market them as New Hampshires. If they tend toward the darker red end (closer to mahogany) with profuse black tail feathers, the hatcheries generally market them as Rhode Island Reds. If the red color is centered between chestnut and mahogany, or if it is a very non-uniform red, or if they have any feathers in them that are not red or black (no matter how few), or if there are little or no black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries generally market them as Production Reds.
 
Michael OShay said:
Technically speaking there is little difference between hatchery grade New Hampshires, hatchery grade Rhode Island Reds, and Production Reds. It really comes down to a matter of semantics. If they are a light chestnut color with profuse black tail feathers the hatcheries generally market them as New Hampshires. If they tend toward the darker red end (closer to mahogany) with profuse black tail feathers, the hatcheries generally market them as Rhode Island Reds. If the red color is centered between chestnut and mahogany, or if it is a very non-uniform red, or if they have any feathers in them that are not red or black (no matter how few), or if there are little or no black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries generally market them as Production Reds.
Click to expand...

x2 Couldn't have said it better.

At 10 weeks, you should see a really big difference in comb development between the roo's and the pullets. Pullets will be small and yellow, while the roo's will be pronounced and red, with red wattles. You may even be seeing the beginning of saddle feathers and hackles.
LofMc
 
Ok, here they are, now at 11 weeks. Hatchery birds, sexed as pullets. Looks like I can only add one photo at a time using my phone. Backyard chickens is pretty frustrating for me to post, seems to only work with safari.
400
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