ACK Barred Rock chicks mixed w/ Dominique...

[smithhouse]

I need some expert help FAST!! A group of friends and I ordered chicks from McMurrarys. We are about to go pick them up at our friend's home. She ordered some barred rocks (among others), and I ordered 3 Dominiques and a Turken. We are going to hand raise them to be our pets and really want Dominiques!! Well, the hatchery said they would i.d. them, but they DID NOT! : (

Now I need help sorting these chicks so that I come home and my kids and I raise the ones we want. Please give any advice on sorting these near identical Barred Rock and Dominique chicks!!!

Thank you in advance.

 

[patandchickens]

No problem -- the BR are single-combed, the Doms are rose-combed. Yes, you can tell even on baby chicks, look closely

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[speckledhen]

Pat is right. In BRs, look for the tiny spikes on the comb (single). In Doms, that area will be just flat (rose)

 

[smithhouse]

Thank you! After feeling around rubbing the tops of their heads with no luck, I took a look at one head on! Here I was rubbing and rubbing these little chicks not getting it, but then, ah ha!! Right at the top of the beak there were the ridges. Two had them, six didn't. The numbers added up! Thank you so much for your help. Now I have determined that we have brought home 3 Dominique girls. That left me to ponder the Turken who is also black with white. I started wondering if it could be a dominique turken, but after inspection, I see a single comb emerging, so I think it is a BR turken. So maybe I'll just get the best of both worlds all around! : D They are eating and drinking and catching up on rest. It would have been luck-of-the-draw without all your help! So thanks again!

 

[speckledhen]