ID my peachicks please?

[AraucanaAnne]

I've thumbed through similar threads and pored over websites hoping to figure out what varieties I've got, but I'm afraid I just don't have an eye for it yet. [I imagine this is somewhat akin to a chicken newbie trying to figure out the difference between an Ameraucana and an Easter Egger]

I only have six chicks in total but I think I may have ended up with 4 different varieties. Two look like this, sort of an all-over reddish brown:


One looks like this (darker in color than the one above, and with some white in the breast):


One looks like this (it has "eyebrows!"):


And two look like this:



Any help would be appreciated! Also, when is is possible to tell the difference between male and female? Thanks!

 

[KsKingBee]

I'll play, and know that I don't have that much experience. Also there may be splits-to consider that you won't even know about until they become breeders and you raise chicks from them.

The first two I am guessing IB males because they are lighter in color and the barring is showing more readily.

The second could be an IB female because it is darker and shows less barring. It also has a white 'throat latch' meaning it is split to white or pied.

The third looks like it could be a silver pied, cross your fingers on that guess, but at any rate a pied, some might say loud pied.

The last two could be Black Shoulder chicks.

Now you know that in the future when they feather out and you KNOW what they are, you have to dig up this old post and let us know how they turned out.

 

[DylansMom]

I'll play, and know that I don't have that much experience. Also there may be splits-to consider that you won't even know about until they become breeders and you raise chicks from them.

The first two I am guessing IB males because they are lighter in color and the barring is showing more readily.

The second could be an IB female because it is darker and shows less barring. It also has a white 'throat latch' meaning it is split to white or pied.

The third looks like it could be a silver pied, cross your fingers on that guess, but at any rate a pied, some might say loud pied.

The last two could be Black Shoulder chicks.

Now you know that in the future when they feather out and you KNOW what they are, you have to dig up this old post and let us know how they turned out.

All very good ID's , but look at the crest on that chick in the first picture. What do you see?

 

[AraucanaAnne]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your efforts.... When I know what they are for certain I'll try to dig up the thread and update.

If it helps, these birds were ordered from McMurray's "Peafowl Assortment" which may include "Blue, Black Shouldered, White, Pied, Spalding, Cameo, Oaten, Purple, & Silver Pied."

Regarding the crest on the bird in the first photo, that one definitely has the biggest crest, and unlike the others it's sort of a big clump of feathers that points forward, instead of fanned out like the others. Does that mean something?

 

[DylansMom]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your efforts.... When I know what they are for certain I'll try to dig up the thread and update.

If it helps, these birds were ordered from McMurray's "Peafowl Assortment" which may include "Blue, Black Shouldered, White, Pied, Spalding, Cameo, Oaten, Purple, & Silver Pied."

Regarding the crest on the bird in the first photo, that one definitely has the biggest crest, and unlike the others it's sort of a big clump of feathers that points forward, instead of fanned out like the others. Does that mean something?

Absolutely, tight, long, forward pointing crest means it has some green blood, making it a Spalding.

 

[AraucanaAnne]

Oooh! Spaldings are Java Green hybrids, right? Aren't Greens supposed to be kinda high strung? That one is by far the tamest and most affectionate.

 

[DylansMom]

Oooh! Spaldings are Java Green hybrids, right? Aren't Greens supposed to be kinda high strung? That one is by far the tamest and most affectionate.

There are 3 varieties of green peafowl, Javas, Burmese, and Indo-Chinese. Any cross between one of these and a blue gives you a Spalding. This is "Chirpie", my Spalding yearling and he is not high strung at all. Very forward and very tame.

 

[AraucanaAnne]

OMG he is so gorgeous! I guess it's all in how you raise them. Several people told me not to get peafowl because "they're wild animals / you can't tame them / they're crazy / etc" but mine are just as tame and friendly as chickens... at least so far. LOL.

 

[KsKingBee]

All very good ID's , but look at the crest on that chick in the first picture. What do you see?

Totally missed it! And for someone who desperately wants a Spaulding....

 

[AraucanaAnne]

Do Spauldings always inherit the Green-type crest or do some have normal crests?