New Hams?

[musicmommy]

These guys are supposed to be New Hampshire pullets, but they don't look like any New Ham pictures I've ever seen, nor do they look like my others. I'm a newbie, so I could just be making things up. They're Dunlap babies, if that makes any difference. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Michael OShay]

From the top, the first and third chicks look like Production Reds, and the second and fourth chicks look like Red Sex Links. The actual name of the breed is New Hampshire, not New Hampshire Red, and any hatchery that sells birds under the label "New Hampshire Red," including Dunlap is selling Production Reds rather than pure New Hampshires. Dunlap markets its Red Sex Links under the label "Golden Sex Links."

 

[musicmommy]

Interesting. Thanks, Michael. #3 is supposed to be a RIR, and she looks much like my other RIRs. She just got caught in the picture. Maybe they're all Production Reds, then? (Other than the two sex link chicks)

 

[musicmommy]

Having consulted the all-knowing Google, I think I've answered my own question. It's highly unlikely that I have true RIRs, yes? Not that it matters much other than to satisfy my need to label everything. They're all staying.

 

[Michael OShay]

Interesting. Thanks, Michael. #3 is supposed to be a RIR, and she looks much like my other RIRs. She just got caught in the picture. Maybe they're all Production Reds, then? (Other than the two sex link chicks)

You're welcome. Production Reds are red gene roosters (RIRs, NH, or PRs) X red gene hens (RIRs, NHs, or PRs) which are bred for egg production with little regard for APA breed standards. As a result, other than having reddish feathers, yellow legs, and single combs, there is considerable variation in the appearance of Production Reds and little or no difference between them and hatchery quality RIRs and NHs. If the PR offspring have feathers that tend toward a darker red (mahagony) and if they have black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries market them as RIRs. If they have feathers that tend toward a lighter red (chestnut), and if they have black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries market them as NHs. If the reddish color in somewhere in the middle, or if it is uneven, or if they lack black feathers in the tail, they market them as Production Reds. So yes, in reality, all your red birds are Production Reds. Your Red (Golden) Sex Links on the other hand are produced by crossing a red gene rooster X a silver gene hen. Not only can the resulting offspring be sexed by color from hatching (male chicks are whitish, females are reddish), but they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization.