ladybrasa
Songster
I thought I generally had it figured out, but then I had to go and get some breeds that I’m not sure about. I would like to find out definitively or know what to look for to know for sure and around when, as boys will go to freezer camp.
1) I somehow ended up hatching a Silver Double-laced Barnevelder bantam. I had requested standards, along with some other breeds, and just thought the egg was a smallish Brabanter, until it hatched! I’m thinking female. I see no saddles and at the moment is female patterned. However I read somewhere that gender coloration in barnies might show up later. Also I have no idea if banties mature slower or faster than standards? S/he is about four months old and tiny!
2) Chocolate Gold-laced Orpington from eggs from Papa’s poultry. Only one made it to hatch. S/he is about 3 months old. I think I read somewhere that breeder English Orps mature slower?? I also have two hatchery buff orps (I know, not really comparable) that were crowing at 6 weeks. I can’t make out any saddles, but the feathers are a bit tatty (is this connected to choco coloring?). The comb is redd-ish (looks brighter than it is in the pic), but not bright red like the other similar age birds. I’ve also had pullets that red at that age last year, so I’m not that convinced from comb color alone.
3) Finally the hard one: a hefty four-toed hatchery silkie that was a ‘filler’ to meet the TSC minimum. I really have no idea how to even start to tell. AND of course I forgot to note when I purchased this one and the others … I’m think about 10 weeks or so? Probably much too early, but what will I be looking for?
Thank you for any input!!
1) I somehow ended up hatching a Silver Double-laced Barnevelder bantam. I had requested standards, along with some other breeds, and just thought the egg was a smallish Brabanter, until it hatched! I’m thinking female. I see no saddles and at the moment is female patterned. However I read somewhere that gender coloration in barnies might show up later. Also I have no idea if banties mature slower or faster than standards? S/he is about four months old and tiny!
2) Chocolate Gold-laced Orpington from eggs from Papa’s poultry. Only one made it to hatch. S/he is about 3 months old. I think I read somewhere that breeder English Orps mature slower?? I also have two hatchery buff orps (I know, not really comparable) that were crowing at 6 weeks. I can’t make out any saddles, but the feathers are a bit tatty (is this connected to choco coloring?). The comb is redd-ish (looks brighter than it is in the pic), but not bright red like the other similar age birds. I’ve also had pullets that red at that age last year, so I’m not that convinced from comb color alone.
3) Finally the hard one: a hefty four-toed hatchery silkie that was a ‘filler’ to meet the TSC minimum. I really have no idea how to even start to tell. AND of course I forgot to note when I purchased this one and the others … I’m think about 10 weeks or so? Probably much too early, but what will I be looking for?
Thank you for any input!!
I think your barnevelder is a female and so cute too!
I think your Orpington also looks like a pullet! One of my buff Orpingtons has those kinds of feathers too! I was thinking it was just a random Orpington thing? I’m not even going to try with the silkie!
I’m not too good at telling with those!
Sorry!
