3 year old hen - breed thoughts?

[corviidae]

We got this little lady advertised as a Black Austrolorp, along with one other that had been the same breed. She in particular had yellow bottoms of her feet which we thought was normal, but she grew up to look quite different from her sibling. She’s lithe and always had low egg laying rate. Very kind and friendly and follows you around, and much brighter brown/orange eyes. Her counterpart sister was thicker, better layer and not as friendly. We unfortunately lost the other to a heat stroke a couple years ago.

We were told that she could be a Jersey Giant but she’s so little that it seems…unlikely. She’s a little smaller than our 6 month old lavender orpington. We were also told black sexlink, or that she might still be a black austrolorp. What’re your guys’ thoughts?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Definitely looks like an Australorp too me.

 

[corviidae]

Definitely looks like an Australorp too me.

It’s what I thought until I was told that austrolorps shouldn’t have yellow feet as chicks I’ve been so confused this whole time.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Possibly a mix? Australorps do have white skin and are also better than average layers.

 

[Painted Calls]

As adults they shouldn't have yellow skin. Her skin looks white to me. I'd call her an Australorp.

 

[corviidae]

As adults they shouldn't have yellow skin. Her skin looks white to me. I'd call her an Australorp.

ohhh. That's where I had it wrong. I was told even as chicks they shouldn't have yellow skin. that helps me feel a little better.

Possibly a mix? Australorps do have white skin and are also better than average layers.

she's such a terrible layer. probably our worst. we expected more but she lays maybe an egg a week if we're lucky, but she seems perfectly healthy.

 

[MysteryChicken]

It’s what I thought until I was told that austrolorps shouldn’t have yellow feet as chicks I’ve been so confused this whole time.

All the Australorp chicks I've raised in the past had yellow feet, until they grew up, they became white/pink.

 

[3KillerBs]

All the Australorp chicks I've raised in the past had yellow feet, until they grew up, they became white/pink.

That's weird. All mine have white skin from hatch.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Australorp. There is a reason why many breeders wait until a chicken has fully matured before they decide whether to retain or cull. It's not uncommon for a chick to have some not so perfect features that they grow out of. You could have a chick that hatches picture perfect, but matures into a breed standards nightmare. On the other hand you can have a chick that you're just not sure about mature into a picture perfect example.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's weird. All mine have white skin from hatch.

It's actually quite common, even with the Orpingtons I've raised.