Mystery Chicks #1

[cherry511]

These are 7 - 8 week old hens from Rural King, Hoover Hatchery’s Rare Breed Assortment. Any ideas on breed? Thank you!

 

[neoweidy]

It looks a lot like my maran pullets- seems crazy that they’ll be completely black when grown- Does she have feathers down her legs? If so- that’s a good indicator of a maran- I forget which kind of Maran I ended up with - I was to get 2 kinds but they were sold out of the other.

 

[house1917]

At least from that list the prairie bluebell egger would be the only option. They look like production red pullets as well- so they may have ended up in the wrong bin.

With the bluebells you’ll get lots of blue eggs, with production reds you’ll get lots of brown eggs- so either way it’s good news. Just not a rare breed!

 

[cherry511]

It looks a lot like my maran pullets- seems crazy that they’ll be completely black when grown- Does she have feathers down her legs? If so- that’s a good indicator of a maran- I forget which kind of Maran I ended up with - I was to get 2 kinds but they were sold out of the other.

No, feathers down the legs. Thank you!

It looks a lot like my maran pullets- seems crazy that they’ll be completely black when grown- Does she have feathers down her legs? If so- that’s a good indicator of a maran- I forget which kind of Maran I ended up with - I was to get 2 kinds but they were sold out of the other.

 

[fluffycrow]

It's am EE of some kind. Looking at your list, it's probably the Prairie Bluebell, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's an oopsie

 

[FunClucks]

Your chicks look like you have one new hampshire (the most red one), maybe a few cinnamon queens, and possibly a few starlight green eggers? Sorry, I see no rare breeds, or prairie bluebells (no pea comb). Also no feathered feet.

I think your order or the bins got mixed up. I'm so sorry!!!

Good thing is, cinnamon queens should give you one large egg a day, SGEs should give you one medium green egg a day, and new hampshire should give ~5 eggs a week. So you should get lots of eggs if you decide to keep them. Many of the rare breeds listed often lay much less frequently.

 

[fluffycrow]

Agree, I think it's an oopsie

 

[cherry511]

It's am EE of some kind. Looking at your list, it's probably the Prairie Bluebell, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's an oopsie

Both?

 

[FunClucks]

Both?

Prairie Bluebell Eggers (PBEs) are a designer "breed" of Easter Egger (EE) from Hoovers that lay only blue eggs and have no muffs or beards. However, they all have pea combs. Since none of yours have pea combs, there are no PBEs. Also the feathering colors on your chicks do not match those for PBE (I have a number of PBE).

EEs can have a pea comb or not, depending on their genetic history, and any type of feathering colors. Muffs and beards are common with EE, but not always present - your chicks do not have muffs or beards. Often pea comb is linked with the blue egg gene (it is for PBE) but not for all breeds. If the easter eggers are based on cream crested legbar, for instance, they will have straight comb.

FYI, Starlight Green Eggers are a designer "breed" of EE produced by Hoovers that has a straight comb and often, but not always, has coloring similar to red sex-link hens. They also come in partridge and some other colors, but that doesn't apply to your chicks. For starlight green eggers, the blue egg gene is linked to straight comb. These lay green, but sometimes tan.

 

[cherry511]

Prairie Bluebell Eggers (PBEs) are a designer "breed" of Easter Egger (EE) from Hoovers that lay only blue eggs and have no muffs or beards. However, they all have pea combs. Since none of yours have pea combs, there are no PBEs. Also the feathering colors on your chicks do not match those for PBE (I have a number of PBE).

EEs can have a pea comb or not, depending on their genetic history, and any type of feathering colors. Muffs and beards are common with EE, but not always present - your chicks do not have muffs or beards. Often pea comb is linked with the blue egg gene (it is for PBE) but not for all breeds. If the easter eggers are based on cream crested legbar, for instance, they will have straight comb.

FYI, Starlight Green Eggers are a designer "breed" of EE produced by Hoovers that has a straight comb and often, but not always, has coloring similar to red sex-link hens. They also come in partridge and some other colors, but that doesn't apply to your chicks. For starlight green eggers, the blue egg gene is linked to straight comb. These lay green, but sometimes tan.

Prairie Bluebell Eggers (PBEs) are a designer "breed" of Easter Egger (EE) from Hoovers that lay only blue eggs and have no muffs or beards. However, they all have pea combs. Since none of yours have pea combs, there are no PBEs. Also the feathering colors on your chicks do not match those for PBE (I have a number of PBE).

EEs can have a pea comb or not, depending on their genetic history, and any type of feathering colors. Muffs and beards are common with EE, but not always present - your chicks do not have muffs or beards. Often pea comb is linked with the blue egg gene (it is for PBE) but not for all breeds. If the easter eggers are based on cream crested legbar, for instance, they will have straight comb.

FYI, Starlight Green Eggers are a designer "breed" of EE produced by Hoovers that has a straight comb and often, but not always, has coloring similar to red sex-link hens. They also come in partridge and some other colors, but that doesn't apply to your chicks. For starlight green eggers, the blue egg gene is linked to straight comb. These lay green, but sometimes tan.

Thank you!