- Sep 5, 2012
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I purchased 5 Australorps from our feed store this fall. There were *no* black sex links ordered by this particular store. These were the first chicks of fall and all they had ordered at that point were Australorps and red stars. So, I know the feed store didn't mix them up
They all looked very lorpy until I left town for the weekend! 4 had the typical white facial features/bellies/necks of lorp chicks, the fifth looked the same except she is all black around the eyes and beak.
4 are definitely pullets, and feathered in together with big foofy girl-lorp tails- including the pullet in question.
Here's the babies at 2 weeks (pullet in question is frontmost with no white around eyes/beak):
As you can see, the other 4 are very "lorpish." (I sure do hope other people call them "Lorps"... cracks me up)
Here's a close-up of lady in question at <1 week:
Anyway, I never questioned the lorp-ness...
HOWEVER, when I returned from my trip this weekend she had some red feathers around her face and neck/chest! Surprise!
Did the hatchery make an accidental switcheroo and I ended up with a black star amongst lorps? I'm not complaining, she is super sweet and obviously a total ham for the camera.
I've just never seen lorps go through a red/brown feather stage... Sure they lose those last few white feathers as they mature... but reds?
Anyone have any idea??
They all looked very lorpy until I left town for the weekend! 4 had the typical white facial features/bellies/necks of lorp chicks, the fifth looked the same except she is all black around the eyes and beak.
4 are definitely pullets, and feathered in together with big foofy girl-lorp tails- including the pullet in question.
Here's the babies at 2 weeks (pullet in question is frontmost with no white around eyes/beak):
As you can see, the other 4 are very "lorpish." (I sure do hope other people call them "Lorps"... cracks me up)
Here's a close-up of lady in question at <1 week:
Anyway, I never questioned the lorp-ness...
HOWEVER, when I returned from my trip this weekend she had some red feathers around her face and neck/chest! Surprise!
Did the hatchery make an accidental switcheroo and I ended up with a black star amongst lorps? I'm not complaining, she is super sweet and obviously a total ham for the camera.
I've just never seen lorps go through a red/brown feather stage... Sure they lose those last few white feathers as they mature... but reds?
Anyone have any idea??
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