Are these Black Sex Links?

[RADK]

Hello, first time poster here.

I recently received 12 black sex link pullets from a hatchery. My first ever chickens and I am beyond excited!

However, 2 of them are not black at all. Instead they are a warm red. Are they a different breed or just *brown* black sex links? See pics attached - I realize it is tricky seeing the colour difference under the heat lamp!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Did they add in extra chicks. They almost look like EE but i could be wrong

 

[RADK]

Did they add in extra chicks. They almost look like EE but i could be wrong

Nope, I ordered 12 and received 12! Wouldn’t mind if they were, curious as they stand out quite a bit.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Nope, I ordered 12 and received 12! Wouldn’t mind if they were, curious as they stand out quite a bit.

I think black sex links are suppose to be black, then have a white dot if male. So i dont think those ones are black sex links. But hopefully others chime in!

 

[JedJackson]

They are absolutely black sex link pullets. Spot on.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

They are absolutely black sex link pullets. Spot on.

sorry ive never owned them, now i have a better understanding thanks

 

[JedJackson]

sorry ive never owned them, now i have a better understanding thanks

Actually, I'm having second thoughts now that I've read through the original post again and looked at the pictures if the two you mean again. They do appear to be very light. It could be natural hybrid variation or it could be that some other variety was substituted on those two. Pictures in better lighting could help solve the mystery, but you may have to wait a while to see what happens with them. They could molt out and look completely different.

 

[house1917]

Actually, I'm having second thoughts now that I've read through the original post again and looked at the pictures if the two you mean again. They do appear to be very light. It could be natural hybrid variation or it could be that some other variety was substituted on those two. Pictures in better lighting could help solve the mystery, but you may have to wait a while to see what happens with them. They could molt out and look completely different.

The black sex-link chick picture from Mt. Healthy has a mix of black and dark brown pullet chicks. The good news is none of yours have the white dots on their heads- so no whoops cockerels.

Will be interesting to see if the brown ones feather out with more copper on their bodies than the usual neck and chest.

Enjoy lots of brown eggs- you picked a great production breed.

 

[Rare]

Can you show them again? Month later since this post.

 

[RADK]

Above is a picture from today - they are almost 7 weeks. I’ve circled the 2 “brown” chicks, but as you can see some of the others have caught up with the pretty colouring!

The original brown chicks are still the only ones I can tell apart enough to name so far, but they are not as far off in appearance anymore. Below is a photo from last week showing the 3 colours that I now have.

I am assuming that they are all the same breed. If anyone disagrees please share - again I am new to chickens so I don’t have much to go on. I do think that they are very pretty for BSL though, but am probably biased. Picture below is of a couple of the formerly black chicks.