We have 28 one-week old chicks, 4 different breeds. I know their coloring/feathering will change so I'm not wanting to use that as my distinguishing mark at this point. There are several that I can tell apart due to the markings on their beaks. For instance, I have one Australorp with a light colored beak, she has black markings that make a "V" over her beak, we've named her "Veronica", and another with a light beak and a black dot on each side - she's "Dottie". Will these marks change over time? If so I should look at getting some sort of leg bands for them. TIA, I'm such a chicken newbie Debbi
I can't answer that question, but I have a Delaware with a distinctive beak marking too: it is darker toward the point of the beak and lighter up toward her head. It is newly changed I think. At least I didn't notice it before today. I hope someone has an answer to your question, because that might help me understand MY bird better. Quote:
Welcome to the struggle of telling Australorps apart, especially the hens Some people amaze me in knowing which is which. I have four hens I can identify immediately and the rest are collectively "the girls". The beaks will darken up and the breed standard is for a black beak although some do keep a bit of the lighter. For me as their personality and habits start to develop and I get to know them better I can tell them apart a bit easier, sometimes you can tell them by body shape, feathering and their comb too. They are so lovely though
i have BR chicks that we were telling apart by their beaks. they are now 16 days old and their beaks have changed. some of the original markings are still there; however some have faded and there is a lot of new stuff going on too now that their beaks are so much bigger. the beak still helps us to identify them but it's definitely a fluid thing. i have no idea about the breed specific stuff though.
