Hatchery Whiting True Blues

[fat brown hen]

I'm ordering Whiting True Blues from Murray McMurray. The descriptions say that feather colors vary widely -- do they try to breed for different colors and send a variety, or does every batch look about the same? I'm hoping to get something that looks like the cover photo for Whitings; not sure if that's representative of the breed or something like a rare Pokemon card.

 

[NatJ]

Some years ago, I ordered 4 males and got:
1 white
1 sort-of silver columbian (had stripes as a chick, sort-of like a chipmunk)
2 blues (1 with a beard, 1 without. I can't remember whether one of the other colors was also bearded or not checked my notes: three clean-faced, one bearded blue.)

None had the coloring of the bird in the photo
None had red/gold color visible anywhere

I know that is a very small sample size. Hopefully other people can chime in too

 

[TexasBlues]

all I can say is there’s a variety of colors and patterns with the chicks I got from shipped eggs. You can see them here:

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

Apparently they come in all kinds of colors; the blue egg-laying is the one constant.

My beloved Martha is white with some silver-gray splashes and a pea comb, and is a champion blue egg layer, very friendly (though very flighty until her hormones hit & she started squatting for me; since then she's fine with handling). I haven't seen photos of other WTBs that have her coloring.

TexasBlues, it'll be great fun to see how your chicks look when they grow up!

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

all I can say is there’s a variety of colors and patterns with the chicks I got from shipped eggs. You can see them here:

This video is wonderful - they're SO danged cute! They are growing up in "chicken heaven"! Love the slow-motion dust bathing segment...

 

[fat brown hen]

@NatJ @TexasBlues @RedwoodCoastChick -- Are they consistently leghorn-shaped? ie, sleek, compact, but with pea combs.

 

[TexasBlues]

I think they’re fairly sleek looking in general. Here’s some examples from dragonfly farms. The same place I got my eggs from.
https://www.dragonflyfarmnc.com/whiting-true-blue

And here’s some photo galleries from other farms

https://silverhomestead.com/whiting/

https://www.sugar-feather.com/product/true-blue-chicken/

 

[DLA]

I'm ordering Whiting True Blues from Murray McMurray. The descriptions say that feather colors vary widely -- do they try to breed for different colors and send a variety, or does every batch look about the same? I'm hoping to get something that looks like the cover photo for Whitings; not sure if that's representative of the breed or something like a rare Pokemon card.
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I was looking at those and considering ordering myself at some point in the future, maybe this year maybe next - not sure yet. When you get them can you please keep us updated on how they turn out, I'd be curious to know. Thanks!!!

 

[TexasBlues]

Here’s the current list of some of the birds available from whiting hatchery. They are available in the western Colorado region and also by transport. But they won’t ship directly.

 

[TexasBlues]

I sent an email to the hatchery to see if I could interview dr whiting on the development of the true blue. I’ve read conflicting accounts of how they were made and would like to clear up the confusion.