New sex links

[dolly85]

So, I went and got some red sex link chickens (AKA Comets?) because my other two hens haven't started to lay yet. Apparently the reason these chickens are laying already is because the guy lights his coop at night giving his chickens 16 hours of straight daylight! I figured the 12 we were getting was good enough, apparently not.

My new chickens were hatched in April, same as the other two I have but are MUCH smaller. Is it just the difference in breeds?

Here are some pictures of my new chickens in the chicken tractor....

My original hens that I got as chicks. I think the black one is a JG or black austrolorp.... She is heavy set, large, and has blackish feet with yellow bottoms. I think the other one is an EE as she has greenish legs with yellow bottoms, pea comb and a small beard ( no muffs). Their parents were assorted purebred brown egg layers from a hatchery and these guys were sold as mixed brown egg layers so who knows what is in their background!!!! They are both probably mixes as the assorted hatchery parents were all mixed together.

 

[PeakyBeaky]

The top 2 look like the Comets we have. Great layers and very friendly.

 

[High Rouster]

The bottom two are probably not related, they dont share the comb characteristics. The one on the left looks to be a black star, and the other one could be a easter egger if it has the "wild feathers" underneath the eyes.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Gold sex links, an Australorp and I don't think the other one is an EE. She looks like a game cross.

 

[coq au vin]

I think the one in question is an EE that simply doesn't have a beard or muffs. This happens from time to time. It does look gamey because EEs are a rather gamey little bird.

 

[dolly85]

I was so excited to find two eggs from my new chickens this morning! They tasted great in my pancakes.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Don't be surprised if your new girls suddenly stop laying- it's just something they do sometimes a couple days after moving to a new home. Very pretty girls!

 

[Year of the Rooster]

You said your Black hen has yellow bottoms on her feet? Then she is a Jersey Giant.