Are they BSL?

[zshepherd]

Brand new to chicken keeping and I am grateful for the information that I have found on this site. Thanks to you all, you're a gold mine for newbies.

My husband bought 10 chicks at TSC labeled black sex link pullets. At 5 weeks, they appear atypical to many photos I have seen of the same pullets and breed at this age. As chicks all were black with very little white on their bottoms and wing tips. None of them had the dot on the head as chicks and no barring. Some now have lovely white markings down the chest. Your knowledge and comments are appreciated.


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[Spartan22]

Seems like they are BSL. If they are, they very friendly and good layers. I’ve got 3 of them and theyre awesome layers.

 

[JedJackson]

Brand new to chicken keeping and I am grateful for the information that I have found on this site. Thanks to you all, you're a gold mine for newbies.

My husband bought 10 chicks at TSC labeled black sex link pullets. At 5 weeks, they appear atypical to many photos I have seen of the same pullets and breed at this age. As chicks all were black with very little white on their bottoms and wing tips. None of them had the dot on the head as chicks and no barring. Some now have lovely white markings down the chest. Your knowledge and comments are appreciated.

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No, I don't think those are black sex links at all. The chicks looked right, but the feathering when they got older does not look right. There should be no white or silver in the plumage and most should have at least a little brown or red mixed in at the neck. In fact, some BSLs have lots of brown, especially at the breast but elsewhere, too. I think you might have just gotten some mixed breeds. And I see one or two that look like they could be cockerels, especially the bird in the second to last picture.

 

[Spartan22]

BSL Chick photos and and a pullet photo.

 

[zshepherd]

Thank you all for the replies. With no brown or red, at all, on any of them and the silver, I agree that they don't look like BSL and also the possibility of a couple of cockerels. Luckily, we are fine with having a rooster. I'll have to re-home the rest if there is more than 1. I'm thinking mixed breed too. Time will tell and I'll update pics as they grow.

 

[Gray Farms]

Very well could be Black Sexlinks. They can vary a lot in color depending on what breed the hatchery used in the original cross.

 

[Alexismarie]

I also got "black sex links" at TSC that are feathering out like yours. When I look up the hatchery they used, they can be BSL, austrolorp, or black jersey giants. They don't fully fit in any of those categories

 

[zshepherd]

An update on my chicks. I contacted TSC and I was told the chicks came from Hoover Hatchery. I contacted Hoover and they said, if they are from them, as BSL, they would be a RIR X Plymouth Barred Rock. I think maybe not. A few of them are developing a silver lacing around the entire neck, some are all black, and I think at least one cockerel. Lots of lovely blue/green feathers. No brown or red showing yet. Very friendly group, they come running when I go to feed, greet, and work on the enclosure. They are learning the concept of free range now and seem to love it. Regardless of "what" they are, if they give me eggs, I am content. My best dog ever was a "mutt".

All pic at 7 weeks

Cockerel?

Lacing?

Sitting Pretty

Loving the open door

My suspected male

Group Pic

 

[drumstick diva]

If you are happy with them that's all that matters. I'm used to seeing black sex link pullets portrayed with brown or gold markings around the front. Hope all do give you eggs.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

I also got some BSL that look exactly the same! I have one that for sure also has to be a male but never had any white spots. I’m really curious to see what they look like full grown and what the heck they are!



Mine as babies, their chest feathering and my supposed roo...