Mystery Chicken(s)

[Mutt Farm]

Be careful trying to order "purebred" Ameraucanas from hatcheries. Only a couple of hatcheries actually sell Ameraucanas.

I don't know of any hatcheries that sell Aracanas. You will have to locate a breeder for Araucanas.

Right? I wanted friendly cute docile chickens that laid assorted egg colors. I couldn't locate a supply of either breed. My Pops came home from the feed store with 3 BO's and then 3 EE's. I ordered the rest. I don't breed, just wanted pretty blue eggs to add to my colorful fresh eggs that I share with friends and family.

 

[Mychickjule]

For the EE you should be glad! The beard means it's closer to a pure ameraucana unlike most EEs.

 

[Catnip5]

X3 on the Cuckoo Marans. Mine is also a BIG girl from Meyer. Way bigger than the SLW same age. She's not cuddly, but so stinking comical! She's really kind with the flock too. I agree with EE as well, but you can't count on blue eggs for proof. I have 3 EE's (not from Meyer) and 2 are laying small pinkish eggs. One not laying yet. I'm disappointed. I Should have ordered purebred.

So Funny! Marlene (the Cuckoo Maran) is a riot as well and great with the other girls. Twice anyone's size and a TALKER. Not cuddly but "stinking comical" just like yours.

It sure was fun waiting for the chicks to grow into a breed I could identify. I thought at first I had three silver cuckoo marans but the other two turned out to be Sumatras - kinda snobby & flighty really. Oh well - it's a nice diverse group. I was pleasantly surprised to get to buff brahmas - I knew nothing about them but they are very sweet docile birds - will definitely get a couple more next year.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Catnip5]

For the EE you should be glad! The beard means it's closer to a pure ameraucana unlike most EEs.

Interesting! I didn't know that! All of the other EE's that I got look the same, almost like a gold partridge with no beard so I thought they all looked like that. I lost 3 of my 15 to a fox on three seperate occasions (now protected w/ electric fencing among other things). Two of the three were EE's, another with a beard. So sad. Lessons learned by newbie chicken owner. Looking foward to adding to the flock next year and my first egg due sometime in October. (They hatched 5/18/15 & 20 weeks or so might be when they begin to lay?)

Thanks for the info on the beards! I definitely want a pure ameraucana and a cream legbar for the blue eggs. This year it should be a mix bunch of brown, white, pastel & the maran with a chocolate (I hope)

 

[Catnip5]

Well, after further study I do believe I was incorrect regarding the other two mystery breeds.  I thought my two black pullets were Sumatras but after reading more about the breed I think they are Australorps.  They are thin and tall like Sumatras but the comb is a single I think, not a pea which would make them Australorps.  Anyone wanna confirm?  They are not cuddly and seem pretty flighty to me but are pretty in the sunlight with a green & purple sheen to them.  For some reason I thought Australorps had white flecks on the tips of their feathers - these don't have any white.

Originally these two chicks were identical to the Cuckoo Maran I started the thread with...was really looking forward to chocolate eggs but it looks like these two, if Aussies, will produce brown.  If Sumatras then white.  I'm now leaning toward Australorps.