New Hampshire reds?

[ebeagle35]

I believe these chickens are New Hampshire red. The only thing that makes me question the breed is the white tail feathers that some of them have. These girls are 12 weeks old and were purchased at tractor supply. They were advertised as egg layers. They currently some where around 4 pounds.

 

[BantamLover21]

Photos would help. However, if your birds have white tail feathers, they are likely Red Sex-links.

 

[ebeagle35]

 

[BantamLover21]

With the new photos, you definitely have Red Sex-link pullets. They're not New Hampshires, but you should still get lots of nice brown eggs from them.

 

[fire370]

Look like sex links to me.

 

[Toddrick]

As far as I understand, those are definitely RSL's. A New Hampshire Red could've been the father. They should lay "on steroids" for the first couple years, then they may need replaced.

 

[Michael OShay]

With the new photos, you definitely have Red Sex-link pullets. They're not New Hampshires, but you should still get lots of nice brown eggs from them.

X2 on RSLs. The good news here is that they will outlay New Hampshires.

 

[Toddrick]

X2 on RSLs. The good news here is that they will outlay New Hampshires.

Yes, but the bad news is that they'll likely burn out quicker right? I think that's what is happening to my sister's hens after two years. Half of them are molting right now, which is a little odd since it is summer. The eggs are no longer brown but pale and misshapen, like potato shapes almost. I didn't think that kind of thing happened to standard breeds until they were like six years old. Still, you can't beat them as layers for the first couple years, as the eggs are big and come nearly seven days a week.

 

[Michael OShay]

Yes, but the bad news is that they'll likely burn out quicker right? I think that's what is happening to my sister's hens after two years. Half of them are molting right now, which is a little odd since it is summer. The eggs are no longer brown but pale and misshapen, like potato shapes almost. I didn't think that kind of thing happened to standard breeds until they were like six years old. Still, you can't beat them as layers for the first couple years, as the eggs are big and come nearly seven days a week.

They likely will burn out quicker although I've had a few exceptions. Generally though for me it isn't a problem as I rotate my layers anyway every 2-3 years to keep them at their laying peak. Of course there are always those occasional ones we get really attached to and keep until they die of old age. )

 

[ebeagle35]

Thank you everyone for the quick response. We have also have a rode island red and 15 chicks that will be two weeks old on monday. Those chicks are comprised of orpingtons, light brahmas, barred plymouth rock, black autralorp, coockoo maran, easter eggers and light wyandottes. So we will have a diverse flock. The older chicks were our first experience with chickens.