Black Australorp?

[NewChickenmama06]

No, I don't think they are australorps. They look like black sex links....

I'm new to owning chickens, so please forgive me, but what is black sex links? How did they get in with the Australorp chicks?

 

[SueT]

Black sex links are a mix between Rhode Island Red and Barred Rocks. They are known to be super layers. The term 'sex link' means you can tell the male and female chicks apart by color at hatch time. If that is what they are, I'm just guessing. But TSC is notorious for mislabeling breeds. Australorp chicks look like this, the one in the foreground, did any of yours look similar?:

 

[NewChickenmama06]

Black sex links are a mix between Rhode Island Red and Barred Rocks. They are known to be super layers. The term 'sex link' means you can tell the male and female chicks apart by color at hatch time. If that is what they are, I'm just guessing. But TSC is notorious for mislabeling breeds. Australorp chicks look like this, the one in the foreground, did any of yours look similar?:
View attachment 1776262

They all looked like that!
Pictures included so you can see. I hope you can see well enough, the heat lamp might be a little distorting.

 

[NewChickenmama06]

Agree with the rest. Check the bottoms of your australorps feet. I got sent some black jersey giants with my batch of australorps from the hatchery and the only way to tell is the bottom of the feet color. Australorps will be pink, and jersey giants will be yellow/orangish color. Its very distinct.

Ok thanks, I will check them when I go out. Is there any way to avoid this short of breeding them yourself?

 

[NewChickenmama06]

In the chick picture the back two and the one most to the front are female Black Sex-links.

(Sigh) I knew they were different. They are much bigger then the 3 others that are Australorp's.

 

[NewChickenmama06]

You'll like the sex links. My daughter had one that was her favorite chicken. She was so friendly, and allowed 3 yr old granddaughter to carry her around everywhere. That little hen never missed a day of laying.

I am sure, the ones we have are great little girls, but seem aggressive towards the smaller Australorp's. They even challenge the cockerel! They are so much bigger too.
My husband is upset because he wanted Australorp chicks.

 

[NewChickenmama06]

Agree with the rest. Check the bottoms of your australorps feet. I got sent some black jersey giants with my batch of australorps from the hatchery and the only way to tell is the bottom of the feet color. Australorps will be pink, and jersey giants will be yellow/orangish color. Its very distinct.

Ok feet pictures.
1st is the black Australorp
2nd is the sex link

 

[NewChickenmama06]

Also noticed that in the sun the sex linked chicks black feathers also have a green hue like the Australorp's.