Help idetify breed?

[rubi fussell]

Wait about 6 weeks and then u can probably tell what breed they are

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

They all look like red sexlinks

 

[AinaWGSD]

I agree, red sex links are a real strong possibility. It certainly seems like the most likely breed to be found in farm/feed stores for someone with zero experience to impulse buy. They have yellow legs, so they're not buff orpingtons (orps have white legs). I'm not super familiar with all the new hatchery colored egg laying mixes these days, they might be another possibility.

I am 100% certain they're not Cornish cross meat birds (there's a chance they could be something like freedom rangers, but I don't think I've ever seen the "slower growing" meat birds in my local farm/feed stores).

 

[gtaus]

Lots of talk about Red Sex Linked chicks. I have a couple of Red Sex Link birds in my flock, but they were a darker red even as chicks. Here is a picture of the (red) females and the (white) male Red Sex Link chicks...

I paid for female chicks, and the Red Sex Link chicks I got were that darker red color.

It has been 30 years since I raised Cornish Cross chickens, so I had to look up some pictures of days old chicks. I don't see any red in their feathers even as chicks. They should only get whiter as they grow. Anyways, here is a Google picture of Cornish Cross chicks...

I have always filled out an order form for my chicks, so I knew what I was getting. I imagine it's fun, in a way, not knowing for sure right now what you have. In a matter of weeks, you will have a much better idea of what breeds they are.

 

[redinator]

Lots of talk about Red Sex Linked chicks. I have a couple of Red Sex Link birds in my flock, but they were a darker red even as chicks. Here is a picture of the (red) females and the (white) male Red Sex Link chicks...

View attachment 4222950

I paid for female chicks, and the Red Sex Link chicks I got were that darker red color.

It has been 30 years since I raised Cornish Cross chickens, so I had to look up some pictures of days old chicks. I don't see any red in their feathers even as chicks. They should only get whiter as they grow. Anyways, here is a Google picture of Cornish Cross chicks...

View attachment 4222948

I have always filled out an order form for my chicks, so I knew what I was getting. I imagine it's fun, in a way, not knowing for sure right now what you have. In a matter of weeks, you will have a much better idea of what breeds they are.

Red sexlinks come in differant colors as chicks depending on the two breeds used to make them. I have a Cinnamon Queen, Hoover's version of the red sexlink, and she was chipmunk stripped as a chick and is feathering out to look very similar to a RIR (one of the two breeds in the cross), but lighter.
https://hoovershatchery.com/cinnamon-queen

 

[mango-o]

The right and middle chicks are both red sexlinks. You can see the red feathers with white patterning coming in on their wings. Because of that, my guess is the left most is also a red sexlink. There's a chance it could be a buff orpington, but I'd bet they all came from the same bin. A bonus with that breed means they are all pullets.

There is a zero percent chance of them being Cornish cross. If they were, they would be much bigger and have pure white feathers.

that makes sense, here a picture of the backside and you can see more of that red/brown feathers especially its little tail

 

[mango-o]

Lots of talk about Red Sex Linked chicks. I have a couple of Red Sex Link birds in my flock, but they were a darker red even as chicks. Here is a picture of the (red) females and the (white) male Red Sex Link chicks...

View attachment 4222950

I paid for female chicks, and the Red Sex Link chicks I got were that darker red color.

It has been 30 years since I raised Cornish Cross chickens, so I had to look up some pictures of days old chicks. I don't see any red in their feathers even as chicks. They should only get whiter as they grow. Anyways, here is a Google picture of Cornish Cross chicks...

View attachment 4222948

I have always filled out an order form for my chicks, so I knew what I was getting. I imagine it's fun, in a way, not knowing for sure right now what you have. In a matter of weeks, you will have a much better idea of what breeds they are.

yeah the only info i got is they might all be female because they were told that, it is kinda fun not knowing and waiting to see

 

[Yardmom]

The new picture posted makes it clearer that they are likely all the same breed. Red sex link is a good assumption. That fact you were told all girls also points to that

 

[gtaus]

Well, I think the live members of the BYC forum nailed it down to Red Sex Link chicks. Especially after that recent photo showing the chicks back.

Just for fun, I ran that recent photo through CoPilot AI to see if it would update its guess at chick breed. Here is what the new response was....

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Thanks for the photo, those chicks are looking healthy and well-socialized on that roost. Based on their feathering, posture, and coloration, here’s a best-effort breed analysis:

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Likely Breed:​

These chicks show strong traits consistent with Red Sex-Link pullets, which are hybrid layers bred for:

• Golden to reddish-brown plumage with creamy underlayers
• Early feather development and upright posture
• Docile temperament and strong egg-laying genetics

The chick in the middle, with its pale creamy feathers and upright stance, is typical of early-stage Red Sex-Link females. The ones on either side—with more reddish-brown feathering—reinforce that ID.

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Why Not Buff Orpington or Rhode Island Red?​

• Buff Orpingtons tend to be fluffier and more uniformly golden.
• Rhode Island Reds are darker and more mahogany-toned, even as chicks.
• These chicks have a lighter, more hybridized look, which is classic for Red Sex-Links.

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I mentioned that I have a couple of Red Sex-Link layers in my flock. They are a darker red color as chicks when I got them, but someone mentioned that color can vary depending on the cross breeding used. In any case, you should have some excellent egg layers in the future.

Since I was already in CoPilot, I asked for an overview of the breed that you might be interested in learning....

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Red Sex-Link chickens are a fascinating hybrid with practical advantages and a strong presence in backyard flocks. They’re not a true breed, but rather a genetic cross designed for high egg production and easy sex identification at hatch.

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What Are Red Sex-Link Chickens?​

• 
  
• Hybrid Layers: Created by crossing a New Hampshire Red or Rhode Island Red rooster with a White Plymouth Rock or Delaware hen.
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• Sex-Linked Genetics: Male and female chicks hatch with distinct feather colors, making it easy to separate pullets from cockerels immediately.
  • 
    
  • Females: Reddish or golden-brown down
  • 
    
  • Males: Pale yellow or white down

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Key Traits​

Trait	Description
Egg Production	250–300 large brown eggs per year—among the best layers available
Temperament	Docile, friendly, and easy to handle—great for beginners
Growth Rate	Fast-growing and early maturing
Hardiness	Adaptable to cold climates and confinement, making them ideal for Minnesota
Lifespan	Typically 3–5 years, though production may decline after year 2

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Style Insights​

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• Hybrid vigor means they’re robust and efficient, but not genetically stable—offspring won’t breed true.
• 
  
• They’re ideal for egg-focused flocks, especially if you want predictable productivity and easy chick sexing.

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Care Tips​

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• Feed a layer ration starting around 16–18 weeks.
• 
  
• Provide ample roosting space—they’re active and social.
• 
  
• Watch for early burnout: some hybrids peak early and taper off after 2 years.

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I have a number of hybrid egg layers in my flock. I have found them to very productive for the first two years, but I don't plan on carrying them over a third Minnesota winter. The egg laying slows down too much after the second year, and it costs more to feed them then you get back in eggs. So, I rotate out my old flock with new chicks every other year.

But I live in northern Minnesota and our winters can be very harsh, often with a week or two stretch down to -35F in the dead of winter. I have never lost a chicken to the cold, but the egg laying goes down to about zero in those temps.

I don't know where you live, but you might want to consider adding your geographic region to your member icon. It's helps other members give better answers because my concerns in northern Minnesota are often times different than someone living in southern California, for example.

Hope to hear more from you in the future as your flock grows.