Mixed Up or Just Weird?

[DelawaresinCA]

Hi everyone!
I've been raising my Delawares and I have 2 that look different. They remind me of leghorns or CA whites. I guess I'm just curious do you think they are a different breed or just "undesirable" Delawares?
About 20 years ago my mom ordered hatching eggs from a science supply place for her Pre-K class to witness and we had buff Orpingtons and one rooster of mystery breed. He was black and white and clearly not an Orpington. So I know you can get different breeds than ordered by mistake.
You can see one of the birds on the left here. I have 2 just like that. They're smaller and don't have the same black markings as the others, and they have those big tails. I guess I can always wait 2 more months and see what happens come egg time.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

You’re right, they’re California whites

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've been raising my Delawares and I have 2 that look different. They remind me of leghorns or CA whites. I guess I'm just curious do you think they are a different breed or just "undesirable" Delawares?

Good eye, welcome to BYC!

I think you're correct, different breed per the white ear lobes. Cali white is a good possibility.

 

[3KillerBs]

Wow that's terrible. Sorry about your chicks.
I had a very hard time getting my Delawares. I bought 12 from a place called Hilltop Farms because of the last couple years and the troublesome shipping (I could pick them up at that farm) and they were all sick. I tried EVERYTHING and lost 11 out of the 12. I then ordered 10 females from Hoover's and I lost 1 in the first 48hrs. Then one is a rooster (which I was actually hoping for) and two appear to be CA whites. So after buying 22 "Delaware girls" I am left with 7 Delaware hens. It hasn't gone great.

2 of the 4 Delawares from that order were lost too.

And both of my Brahmas.

The good part is that the non-SOP, single-combed Silver-Laced Wyandotte that I wanted for my Silver-Laced Australorp(ish) breeding project survived.

BTW, if mind are any guide, you can expect a lot of amusing antics from the California Whites. My Chipotle flies like a helicopter and is actually smart enough to get back in the run if she flies out. When our house was being placed and the utilities run, she always found a good vantage point to supervise the workmen operating the heavy equipment.

Repecka, the new one, is an intrepid soul -- roosting with the big girls at the tender age of 8 weeks and always the leader of that age group.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Hi everyone!
I've been raising my Delawares and I have 2 that look different. They remind me of leghorns or CA whites. I guess I'm just curious do you think they are a different breed or just "undesirable" Delawares?
About 20 years ago my mom ordered hatching eggs from a science supply place for her Pre-K class to witness and we had buff Orpingtons and one rooster of mystery breed. He was black and white and clearly not an Orpington.
You can see one of the birds on the left here. I have 2 just like that. They're smaller and don't have the same black markings as the others, and they have those big tails. I guess I can always wait 2 more months and see what happens come egg time.

Austra/Cali whites of some sort

 

[DelawaresinCA]

Austra/Cali whites of some sort

I'm guessing Cali whites, I don't think Hoover's has austra whites. Not sure how you mix them up but as chicks they look identical to Dels.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm guessing Cali whites, I don't think Hoover's has austra whites. Not sure how you mix them up but as chicks they look identical to Dels.

If they are California Whites you're going to get some excellent egg-laying performance.

My CW laid 28 days out of 30 her first year and still lays 6 out of 7 in her second year. She's a MACHINE for 65g eggs -- absolutely consistent.

 

[DelawaresinCA]

If they are California Whites you're going to get some excellent egg-laying performance.

My CW laid 28 days out of 30 her first year and still lays 6 out of 7 in her second year. She's a MACHINE for 65g eggs -- absolutely consistent.

Wow that's even better than what I've heard! And bigger eggs too. Truly eggceptionally eggcellent!

 

[3KillerBs]

Wow that's even better than what I've heard! And bigger eggs too. Truly eggceptionally eggcellent!

I might keep her for a third year. But I'm definitely keeping one of her daughters and I made sure I had one in my chick order this past spring.

 

[DelawaresinCA]

I might keep her for a third year. But I'm definitely keeping one of her daughters and I made sure I had one in my chick order this past spring.

Who lets you order a single? I was thinking about getting a few different breeds for various colors next year but everyone I see requires you to get 4 or more of each breed.