is it possible to see ear lobe colour on a 3 week old chick?

[Minky]

I have 10 chicks. 5 are supposed to be welsummers, 5 danish brown leghorns.
I am only keeping 2-3 of each, but cant tell them apart.
Dont want to give away (sell) all of one by accident and be left with only 1 welsummer...or 1 leghorn... also really dont want to wait until they are 12-14 weeks old.

Anyone know the earliest I can tell? I just inspected their ear canals, very challenging on a 2 week old chick!!! LOL thought some looked white and some peach....... but wondering if the actual ear hole cartilage will be white/red or only when they start growing the"lobe"???

And what do you think earliest age is that this will be evident?

Thanks

 

[JedJackson]

Ear canals are not the part that matters. The earlobe is the patch of skin below the face and the ear tuft. You can't miss it, but it won't show until much later on.

Telling brown Leghorns and Welsummers apart will be tricky until they are older. Welsummers are bigger, plumper, and will have smaller combs. Leghorns are more streamlined and more active. When? You will probably notice the differences in body type by 2 months or so, maybe earlier.

 

[Minky]

okay thanks...

so, do you think the "crazy flighty" ones are Leghorns and the "sitting here on the perch doing nothing " ones are welsummers?

 

[JedJackson]

okay thanks...

so, do you think the "crazy flighty" ones are Leghorns and the "sitting here on the perch doing nothing " ones are welsummers?

It could be, but chicks are kind of unpredictable. I'd say the smaller, less plump ones are probably the Leghorns.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

X2

 

[BellePoule]

I don't know if this helps, but here's a pic of one of my Welsummers, Annika, at two weeks old.

 

[debid]

Feathering rate might be a hint as well. Leghorns are extremely fast. BTW, most hatcheries will mark the chicks if you ask. That would have been super helpful for you!

 

[Minky]

I DID ask. They didnt mark them.
And i asked while picking up if they could identify - she said no.

good to know about the feathering rate of Danish Brown Leghorns- thanks

 

[JedJackson]

I don't know if this helps, but here's a pic of one of my Welsummers, Annika, at two weeks old.
View attachment 1382080

That looks more like a partridge rock to me. Welsummers usually have eye stripes and stripes on their backs.

 

[The Moonshiner]

That looks more like a partridge rock to me. Welsummers usually have eye stripes and stripes on their backs.

I agree. That's not a welsummer chick.