Getting chicks--need help

scoopsmom

Songster
May 4, 2017
104
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112
Texas
OK so I'm getting chicks from a breeder in a few weeks. I want a silver laced Cochin and a frizzle Cochin. The lady I'm getting them from has a silkie roo and a Cochin roo that I believe she is breeding with Cochin hens. She says she will have silver Laced Cochins and frizzle Cochins. She also said she will have brahma bantam mixed in.

My question is will I be able to distinguish what I want from the rest? I will most likely get them when they are only a few days old.

I think I should be able to tell the brahmas because they should be smaller. The frizzles because of their feathers? Can I tell at that young of an age? Also I don't want to wind up with a frazzle. Does the silver lace show up that young?

Also I don't know if she will have silkie/Cochins mixed in and if she does will they all have the 5 toes?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm being picky this go round. This is only my second batch of chicks. The first time I went home with what I was told were silkies only to find out they were actually bantam Cochins. Lol it turned out to be a good thing but still.

Thanks in advance!
 
Brahmas are large birds, but I doubt the Brahma bantam chicks will be any smaller than the other ones.
You won't be able to tell if your chick(s) will turn out frizzles at that young an age. I think when they get a couple weeks older and start getting more feathers in then you will be able to tell. And, I'm not sure what a frazzle is. :p But sizzles are frizzled silkies, if you didn't know. :) And no, Silver Laced colored chicks look nothing like their parents at such a young age. They are distinct looking, though, but no lacing until they start getting their feathers. And even then, probably only when they're (several) weeks old is when you'll be able to see some lacing making sense/defined.

On mixed breeds you never really know what features they will have. It's very possible all or most/some will have five toes, but no guarantee. ;) Or, if I'm misunderstanding your question, Cochins have four toes and light skin...Silkies have the five, and black/dark skin (but I'm assuming you know that). =)

And, @scoopsmom, the questions are fine (the only dumb question is the one you don't ask :D)! I understand the pickiness...and that's perfectly okay!

SLCS3.gif
Here's a picture (courtesy of Meyer Hatchery) of standard Silver Laced Cochin chicks.
 
Thanks for the picture and your response! I was just reading more about frizzles on here and I heard the term frazzle used. From my understanding it's when a frizzle is basically over bred making the feathers brittle so they tend to fall out and look sickly. But I don't really know... Just sorta what I gleaned from other posts.
 
Thanks for the picture and your response! I was just reading more about frizzles on here and I heard the term frazzle used. From my understanding it's when a frizzle is basically over bred making the feathers brittle so they tend to fall out and look sickly. But I don't really know... Just sorta what I gleaned from other posts.
You are correct. A frazzle is treated when breeding to frizzles together. Their feathers are long and very thin. They are super fragile. In cold times, they can easily freeze to death because their feathers are so sparse. You can tell a frizzle and a frazzle apart as soon as wing feathers start coming in. A frizzles wing tips look like they used a curling iron. A frazzles do too but the feathers arent shaped like normal feathers, they are more cylindrical.
 
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I've. gotten the majority of my chickens from feed stores. The others I got from private breeders in my area in fb chicken groups and have gotten some great birds.
 
I got my first batch from tractor supply but they make u get a minimum of 4 plus I not to crazy about the one by me. All the other feed stores around here don't have Cochins which is so crazy to me. Plus I really really want a frizzle and this lady has them. I did find her on a fb group.
I'm sure the chicks will be fine I'm just being picky. :jumpy
 

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