BA coloring question

[pgrenna81]

I have a BA somewhere between 18-20 weeks, she is a HOUSE and has recently got some funny brownish coloring on her neck and upper back, is this normal? I'll try and grab a picture of what I'm talking about a little later.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

A picture would be very helpful. Hatchery birds often have coloration/patterning that can stray fairly far from the Standard of Perfection (SOP) for the particular breed -but just the description and what I am envisioning based on that has me thinking perhaps she is actually a Black Sex Link.

 

[pgrenna81]

Not the best picture but best I could g

et right now, you can see the Brown feathers in the neck and randomly on the wing, after looking at black sex link pictures I think this is just a funny australorp

 

[Michael OShay]

I agree with Ol Grey Mare, it definitely sounds like you have a Black Sex Link hen. Even hatchery grade Black Australorps have all black feathers. I've ordered a number of them over the years from different hatcheries and have never seen with other colored feathers in them. Besides, the location and coloring of the feathers is exactly what you would have with a Black Sex Link hen. If you will post a picture for us we should be able to confirm its identity.

 

[Michael OShay]

Not the best picture but best I could g et right now, you can see the Brown feathers in the neck and randomly on the wing, after looking at black sex link pictures I think this is just a funny australorp

You got this pic posted before I finished my post. It's a very dark picture, but I can definitely see the copper colored collaring around the neck, and what you have is a Black Sex Link hen, not a Black Australorp. Compare it with the picture of my own Black Sex Links below.

 

[pgrenna81]

Better picture

 

[pgrenna81]

Thanks for the clarification, so I have one black sex link and one real BA as my other black chicken is all black feathers with the green sheen , doesn't matter to me either way and good to know

 

[Michael OShay]

Better picture

Yes, you have a Black Sex Link hen, not a Black Australorp.

 

[Michael OShay]

You'll like the Black Sex Link hen. They are egg laying machines. That's why I have seven of them in my flock. I have the same number of Black Australorps, and love both them both.

 

[pgrenna81]

Thanks again for the ID, now I just wish she'd start kicking out some eggs!