Breed Question!

[ame0910]

Hi Everyone!
Back again with another question. I have 3 chickens (7 weeks old) that were labeled as Ameracauna when I purchased them. I’m not sure what breed they actually are and have no past experience to guess with as a first time chicken owner. I’ll attach pictures of them as young, then around 3-4 weeks, and finally what they look like currently. The chickens in question are the larger black ones, they have some red/brown coming in on chest and neck area, and one of them has a substantial amount of color coming in compared to the other 2. In addition, the feathers on their backs they have glossy black/green sheen to them? When I bought them they were all black w/ white on their bellies and chests. One has a black comb, the others combs have become a pale yellow over the last weeks or so. All the legs/feet are black. Any guesses would be appreciated, I’d just like to know what I’ve got!

 

[Yardmom]

A little more detail about where you got these chicks may help. Was it from a hatchery or a breeder where you could see the breed written? Were they said to be a specific color? (Most true Ameraucana are sold by color)
Was it from someone else's backyard flock? Do you know what other breeds they had?

 

[ame0910]

They were purchased from a feed store who got their chicks from SunnySide Hatchery. They were brought in and placed in bins at the feed store organized by breed. No color was listed on the bin that I can remember. Sorry that’s not much info!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

None of your birds in those pictures appear to be Ameraucana.
Ameraucana is an APA recognized breed, and they have to look a specific way.

I looked up the hatchery you mentioned, and they do not list "Ameraucana" that I can find.

They have "Special Blacks" (I believe this is a Black Sex Link, but they gave it a different name) and the appearance matches what you have.

I'll jump to the conclusion that the bins were mislabeled.

 

[ame0910]

That’s what I was hoping for! Not knowing the breed and being new makes it very nerve wracking to determine male vs female too! Thank you!

 

[Yardmom]

Knowing that they came from a hatchery narrows breed possibilities. Knowing which one makes it even narrower. Well sort of as the hatchery doesn't tell what makes their "special blacks". It does make it clear they are a hybrid, so they have made a specific mix of breeds.
I don't see another possibility unless they are project birds not yet on their website.
If they were sex linked males and females would have been different at hatch. Their website doesn't claim them to be sex linked.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

They look to be Black Sexlinks pullets