Black Australorp?

[NewChickenmama06]

Hello, I have a question about my Black Australorp chicks. I have 6 of them, 3 are black and 3 are turning brown. I bought them from TSC back in March. At that time as little fluffballs they looked alike. So are the 3 brown ones actually Australorp's? I've included a picture of them.
Thanks!

 

[SueT]

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

 

[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?:

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Agreed those are black sex links.

additionally, you have a cockerel in there too.

 

[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]

Agreed those are black sex links.

additionally, you have a cockerel in there too.

Lol we figured he was , but at least he's a Australorp, I think!

 

[m1chelle1]

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.

 

[ColtHandorf]

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

 

[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?