6 months old

[debid]

Yes the eye color is wrong for Australorp.

There is no red bleed through that most Black Stars get which is why I consider Black Rock...we are to the point that it is probably one of those. Without genetic testing you may never fully know.

You have a nice black laying bird.

Lady of McCamley

Black Rocks are rare in the US. OTOH, hatchery bred birds with deviations from breed standard are very common. So, I'd put my money on hatchery Australorp.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

yes...meant one of those as in Black Star or Australorp with outside chance Black Rock.
Lady of McCamley

 

[ffachick55]

We didn't get our birds from a hatchery, they were given to us by a friends friend as chicks a couple weeks old.

 

[debid]

We didn't get our birds from a hatchery, they were given to us by a friends friend as chicks a couple weeks old.

Ah, then they are mixes. Breeds are breeds by human intervention. Throw an assortment together and let them mingle and you get mixed traits.

 

[ffachick55]

Ah, then they are mixes. Breeds are breeds by human intervention. Throw an assortment together and let them mingle and you get mixed traits.

Ok that makes sense, so I could get some random chicks when they hatch this weekend?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok that makes sense, so I could get some random chicks when they hatch this weekend?

Yes...just as if you put a bunch of purebred dogs on an island, the puppies that arose would be mutts and show characteristics of both parents, continue that until you have a general population mixture. Some traits are more dominant than others, but you will have mix breeds.

And yes...then your birds are mixes and will produce mixes.

I find my "mutts" grow faster, lay earlier and better than a number of my purebreds and tend to be hardier...hybrid vigor.

Lady of McCamley

 

[ffachick55]

Yes...just as if you put a bunch of purebred dogs on an island, the puppies that arose would be mutts and show characteristics of both parents, continue that until you have a general population mixture.  Some traits are more dominant than others, but you will have mix breeds.

And yes...then your birds are mixes and will produce mixes.

I find my "mutts" grow faster, lay earlier and better than a number of my purebreds and tend to be hardier...hybrid vigor.

Lady of McCamley

Thank you! I have learned so much in the last two days on this sight than in the past couple months researching.