Do Leghorns ever have random grey feathers?

[imacowgirl2]

Do Leghorns ever have random grey/black feathers? I ordered 5 Leghorns from Ideal back in August, and at least two of them have a number of grey feathers... They look identical to our California whites. Did the hatchery mess up or is this possible? If it's possible, is it an undesired trait in Leghorns? We ordered these hens for my daughter to show in 4-H. If they are California Whites she now has nothing to show in the Mediterranean class unless I order more chicks before the end of the year... If it's an undesirable trait, she can still show them but obviously won't place very well.

Are there any other characteristics that could help me distinguish whether they may be California white vs Leghorn?

 

[Amer]

Can I see a picture? Grey flecking is possible but it looks nothing like paint.

 

[imacowgirl2]

First one... she just has a few spots on her left wing.

 

[imacowgirl2]

Second one...

 

[3KillerBs]

What's the fine print for Ideal's Leghorns?

I know that when I ordered California Whites that the fine print allowed them to substitute Ideal 236. I've never looked at the White Leghorn page because, having had a California White from a farm store I was already sure I wanted one of them.

In an email exchange I asked if they'd notify me of a substitution and was told that I'd only be notified of the substitution if I requested notification.

 

[imacowgirl2]

Ideal reserves the right to substitute the Ideal 236 unless White Only White Leghorns are ordered.

Well, there is my answer I think...I know about the substitution for California whites but I never even thought to look for that on the leghorn page since Leghorns are a recognized breed and California White and Ideal 236 are layer crossbreds. Now to figure out how I order white only white Leghorns because that's not even an option I can find...

 

[3KillerBs]

Well, there is my answer I think...I know about the substitution for California whites but I never even thought to look for that on the leghorn page since Leghorns are a recognized breed and California White and Ideal 236 are layer crossbreds. Now to figure out how I order white only white Leghorns because that's not even an option I can find...

Maybe placing your order by phone instead of online would help?

I love getting my chicks from Ideal. They have the most reasonable prices for small orders and I have found their chicks vigorous and healthy (also, being in the Steamy Southeast, getting chicks from Texas undoubtedly helps with selection for heat-tolerance). But their website is a bit awkward and less than intuitive.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The website used to have the white only ones listed I’m pretty sure but now I don’t see it so I guess they took it off. Maybe they want people to use their variety instead???? But I bet if you used the phone you could still order them.

 

[Amer]

Maybe you could find a local breeder of white Leghorns? Good white Leghorns will do better than Ideal’s birds anyways, and you could maybe find some more mature pullets.

 

[Amer]

I found the contact information in the ABA yearbook for the following:
Amanda Heitzman has single comb dark browns in Ohio, I could give you her contact info if you’d like.
I also found Horn’s Leghorns (don’t know the location.)
Bud Blankenship with his browns, also Ohio:
https://m.facebook.com/798978190186797/
Diane Weer in Lexington Illinois with whites.
PM me if you would like more info.