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Look at the spacing on the toes, and the leg feathering for now. They are much too young to judge color on, they won't "finish" as far as color goes until 8 months plus. You can also look at comb points right now. During their awkward adolescent phase, which they are entering now, it's too hard to judge fullness of beard / muffs, in my opinon. I don't like to cull for beards / muffs until they are more mature, unless of course they hatch clean faced.
There really isn't "good coloring" on a chick, it just changes too much on the boys.
Here's good spacing on the 4th and 5th toe:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/15879_toes.jpg
You also want to make sure the leg feathering goes all the way down the outer toe, and it isn't on the middle toe (though a few stubs on the middle toe now may or may not still be there when it's mature).
Hope this helps!
A single combed bird should ideally have 5 points, if they both have 5 points, the one with more even points would be better. I don't have a pic of leg feathering....anybody else have one?? I'm sure if you go back through this thread a ways you will find pics that will show you good leg feathering...
Look at the spacing on the toes, and the leg feathering for now. They are much too young to judge color on, they won't "finish" as far as color goes until 8 months plus. You can also look at comb points right now. During their awkward adolescent phase, which they are entering now, it's too hard to judge fullness of beard / muffs, in my opinon. I don't like to cull for beards / muffs until they are more mature, unless of course they hatch clean faced.
There really isn't "good coloring" on a chick, it just changes too much on the boys.
Here's good spacing on the 4th and 5th toe:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/15879_toes.jpg
You also want to make sure the leg feathering goes all the way down the outer toe, and it isn't on the middle toe (though a few stubs on the middle toe now may or may not still be there when it's mature).
Hope this helps!
A single combed bird should ideally have 5 points, if they both have 5 points, the one with more even points would be better. I don't have a pic of leg feathering....anybody else have one?? I'm sure if you go back through this thread a ways you will find pics that will show you good leg feathering...
