Chick Ordering ID Question

[Iluveggers]

Hi, I’m planning to split a chick order with a friend next year to save on shipping (more birds=less shipping cost).

When the box of chicks arrives, how will we know whose chicks belong to who?
Ex. Lav Orpington vs blue Australorp vs sapphire gem….
Cuckoo marans vs barred rock
Etc

We each have a list of specific breeds and are only getting 1-2 of each type. Ideas? Thanks!

 

[cavemanrich]

Very easy. Go to hatchery website, and view the desired chickens as chicks. They do post those on most Hatchery sites.
Take into consideration that not all chicks survive to adulthood,,, as well as shipping stress. The hatchery also likes to add what they call packing peanuts,,, Extra chicks, (usually cockerels) to the orders for the few that may not make the shipping journey.
There is another option,,, Order your chicks from a feed store like TSC. If there is one near you. Or go to their Chick Days when they have them in the springtime. Cash and carry is my preferred way.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[CoconutCoffee]

I know meyer started banding chicks for easier identification. Not sure about other hatcheries. For me, some breeds look too similar that young to be 100%

 

[Iluveggers]

Thanks! I am getting 4 for my yard (4 different breeds), 11 for the farm (11 different breeds), & my friend is getting a handful (no idea what yet). The only way to get single breed chicks is in the mail. My TSC requires 10 of a breed. I wish you could pay 50 cents to $1 per chick to add identifying leg bands! Lol
Maybe I’ll suggest brooding them together for a few weeks until identifying feathers start coming in. Any other suggestions?

 

[3KillerBs]

My experience with my 15 Blue Australorp chicks and 10 "Assorted Brown Layers" that contained a lot of blue chicks is that it's nearly impossible to tell the different blue breeds apart as new-hatched chicks.

If you are going to split an order and want specific breeds you'll either have to use a hatchery that bands the babies for ID or order chicks with distinctive looks.

 

[AusHen]

Lavender Orpingtons should be pale yellowish silver colour with white skin.
Blue Orpingtons should be a darker more uneven grey colour, sometimes their head looks almost black, again with white skin.
Sapphire gems should look like the Blue Orpingtons but have yellow skin.
Cuckoo Marans have white skin and Barred Plymouth rocks have yellow skin. You can check the skin colour by looking at the bottoms of their feet

 

[3KillerBs]

Lavender Orpingtons should be pale yellowish silver colour with white skin.
Blue Orpingtons should be a darker more uneven grey colour, sometimes their head looks almost black, again with white skin.
Sapphire gems should look like the Blue Orpingtons but have yellow skin.
Cuckoo Marans have white skin and Barred Plymouth rocks have yellow skin. You can check the skin colour by looking at the bottoms of their feet

Accurate skin color can't always be determined in the first days after hatching.

 

[Iluveggers]

I am mainly concerned with the lavender Orpington. That is the one my son is picking out. Would I be able to differentiate that from the others you think?