Interesting question... calling all breed experts... Update!!!!!!

[shuizar209]

So I got my specialorder chicks from my feed store and im windering which are which. They are all chipmunk. I ordered 4 russian orloffs and 5 easter eggers. Both breeds have chipmunk chicks but what I was wondering was maybe there was a way to tell them apart? They both have muffs right?

 

[juliechick]

I looked the Orloffs up on feathersite.com. Their chicks are reddish and yellow, with a dark red stripe on thier backs. You EEs could be brown, yellow, even grey or black, some with stripes and some not. You should be able to tell the difference even though they both have beards and muffs. Also, EEs tend to have green legs. I don't remember the color of Orloff legs.

 

[shuizar209]

Ok so I discovered something. The four that were supposed to be orloffs have a small bump on the tip of their beak. Is that a characteristic? None of the others have this.

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Quote:
Hm. perhaps that's their "egg tooth"? It falls off when they're a few days old.

 

[Illia]

Easter Eggers should have combs that, in most cases, will show three defined rows of bumps. Orloffs will have some odd "brain" or walnut looking combs that are rather folded and lumpy in appearance.

Russian Orloffs should always have yellow legs/feet. Easter Eggers usually have green legs/feet, but can also have yellow or slate colored legs/feet.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Hm. perhaps that's their "egg tooth"? It falls off when they're a few days old.

Yeah the bumps are the end of the beak is their egg tooth, they use that to break through the shell and then they loose it. Can you post pics?

 

[shuizar209]

Good news yellow legs...

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
All chicks legs are yellow though, unless they are black. Until a period of time, usually starting to change at a week to a few months old. Some are greenish at first, but a large part of the birds I've dealt with were always yellow. My OEGB's for example, they had yellow legs until they were feathered out good, then they turned solid white.

I would look at the comb, size (Orloffs should be significantly larger I think), they should have a distinct stance etc to them. If I remember correctly, they take after their Oriental game ancestry, which should give them a more upright carriage and longer legs yes? With pictures I could probably make a guess.

-Daniel