Lavender Orpington vs. Blue Australorp?

[3KillerBs]

Among the 20 chicks that comprise the Blue Blob from my Welp order I have 2 that are noticeably lighter in color than the others, 5 of whom are from the Assorted Brown Layers rather than the 15 Blue Australorps I ordered. If they happen to be Lavender Orpingtons rather than Blue Australorps how would I tell? Seeing that they're both white-skinned, single-combed breeds that are closely related?

Here are some photos, individual and group.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I'm confused. Did I post here?
I have Blue Marans, one has the shredded feathers so she is possibly a lavender Maran? Interesting.
I also have Blue Standard Cochins.

Oops no sorry it was me that was confused. Thread was started by @3KillerBs . Killer bees, birds, bees, trees; yeah they are different. .

 

[ColtHandorf]

I highly doubt their type will be similar. Hatchery Lavender Orpingtons usually look pretty ratchet to me. Even hatchery-quality Black Australorps have a better type than that. Hopefully when they mature you'll be able to tell for sure. They do look Lavender to me in those photos.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Australorps:

Lavender Orpington :

The Lavenders will also probably be a frayed mess. I believe @Overo Mare says hatchery-quality Lavender Orpingtons look like someone used them to scrub a patio.

Anyway they will be much thinner and their tails more pinched and not as deep. They also probably won't lay as well as the Australorps.

 

[spuddenly]

I have a Blue Australorp and Lavender Orpington and can weigh in on this! Here are mine:

(~10 weeks old) The one facing left is the BA, the one facing right pecking the cinderblock is the LO.

(~6 months old) One in the back on top of the hay is the LO, the one in the front is the BA.

Like others have said, Lavender Orpingtons tend to have "shredded" feathers. They're also more evenly grey whereas Blues tend to be darker on the head and fade to a lighter color on the body. As they start laying eggs and get to their full weight, the Orpington will be noticeably chonkier than the Australorp.

Based on your photo, I'm fairly sure you have a Blue Australorp. The feathers aren't shredded, and I see a dark mark on it that indicates a splash (which blues can have but lavenders never will - my BA has a ton of very small scattered black spots, and one larger one on her tail)

 

[dorklandresident]

Do you have any pictures of adults with this? I have LOs I got from a local breeder that does mostly rare breeds. I don't think mine have shredded feathers, but now I am not so sure.

They were $25 per pullet so I hope they were good quality...

Feathers like this View attachment 2937848
Feathers are all over they are split and usually take forever to feather in

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I actually dont see it on these orps which seems rare lol

 

[Chickengirl2671]

Wow, you have some nice looking LOs, they usually don't look that good.

 

[spuddenly]

Agreed that your LO's feathers look very nice and rounded and not shredded from what I can see. Super impressive and huge compliments to your breeder. $25 is a steal for a well-bred pullet in my higher COL area at least, I see folks on Craigslist trying to sell "rare" <12 week old chicks for $60. Good times

 

[dorklandresident]

Do they sell sexed chicks? I might have to get some, they look like quality birds.

I am not sure, you should check their website. They are not a big operation.

Littlemanpoultry.com

The woman who breeds them has her cell phone number on the website somewhere. She responds to texts.