Pictures to accompany questions

[autumn123]

I got these 3 chickens exactly 12 weeks ago. They were already started, so I'm unsure of their ages. They are Leghorn mixes, and one is more probably more araucana (the middle size one with no comb and blue legs). So, their ages now might range from 14-18 weeks, but I don't know how to tell their ages and there are no eggs yet, or any unusual behavior I have noticed. The biggest one has a well-developed yet floppy comb, but no wattle to speak of. The smallest has the beginnings of a comb but more wattle than the largest one. All seem to be in good health, no coughing or sneezing, pecking each other or scratching, but the smallest one always has some black stuff at her nostrils and beak. They get mash for growth, always have access to plenty of water which is changed out daily, and get almost daily treats of greens, watermelon, and other veg and fruit scraps.

Can anyone tell me with this info and pictures how old they appear to be (particularly the biggest one as I am anxious to see my first egg), if the fact that the biggest one has no wattle is a problem or normal, and if the black stuff on the little one's nostrils might indicate a health problem. For size, they are in a 3x3 temporary pen while I clean their yard and house. The 2nd pic is a good one of the largest, and the 4th is a close up of the smallest. Thank you!

 

[donrae]

I'm not seeing leghorn in those birds, unless it's more than a generation back. They're very chunky, rounded birds and leghorns are sleek and lean. They definitely have easter egger in them.

The largest bird, I'm thinking you're not ever getting eggs from him, sorry. I'm not positive it's a he, a nice, clear profile pic of him would help, but I'm pretty sure I'm seeing hackle and saddle feathers there.

I'd guess those birds are around 4ish months or so. The two hens don't look close to point of lay, sorry.

 

[Kelsie2290]

I've got some known white leghorn x hatchery EE crosses that look a lot like this, some are chunkier than others. I'm seeing the EE in them since the rooster and at least one girl? look to have cheek puffs and they all seem to have some shade of gray/green to the legs. They could have leghorn in them since their combs look to be the sort of tall pea combs that those mixes get. Agree they look to be about four months old, and the one maybe a couple of weeks younger, so you probably have another month before the two? girls start laying eggs.
With the black you mention on the smallest one, is that actually something on her, or just the color of her beak etc? From the pic it just looks like she has a mottled beak. EEs/Ameraucanas/Araucanas usually don't have much wattle at all and their close up mixes usually don't have much either.

 

[autumn123]

Here are a couple of profile pics, but I think you are right...
I I see hackle and saddle feathers (but more on the other side) on him too. I emailed the guy I got them from and I am bringing him back even if I get NO refund. I don't want a rooster!

 

[autumn123]

I hope the two smaller ones are hens. I'm pretty sure now after inspecting the largest one closely that it's a rooster. When I got them from an area farm, I asked for w. leghorn [ullets any from age 1-3 months. It is hard to tell the sex at that age. I'm not too concerned about the breed as long as they are good egg producers. I emailed the farm. I am taking the rooster back because I don't want a rooster, and exchanging him for another that might be a hen.

 

[donrae]

I'm glad they're willing to make it right for you.

If you're wanting leghorns, you might not want to go back to the same place as those birds are mixed. Leghorns are pure white, smaller bodied and sleek, yellow legs, no beards or puffy cheeks, and large straight combs.

 

[autumn123]

I asked for Leghorns only because they are supposed to be the best layers, and that's what I need because I have limited space right now and can only have 2-4 chickens. If other breeeds are good layers, that would be fine, as long as I can find one for sale in the area that's not brand new or over a year old.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Glad they is willing to trade the rooster for you. The two smaller ones are probably hens, unless they are a lot younger than you think. I would be kind of hesitant about that farm also, considering these are what they gave you when you asked for white leghorns. If you don't mind brown eggs you might want to ask if they have any red sex links / production reds or RIR or NHR, all should be good brown egg layers, and you are basically just looking for a red chicken with a single comb. There is a good chance that the EE X girls you have will lay green eggs if they are first generation crosses.

 

[donrae]

I have some ee/leghorn crosses and they're great layers! They lay huge light green eggs and those hens have been the ones I've tried to hatch the most eggs from. So, if you weren't set on Leghorns for another reason, and those birds do have leghorn (I'm still not positive, myself, sorry. Mine are much lighter-bodied) they'll still be nice layers for you.

 

[autumn123]

I will probably ask for sex links so I can be sure they're hens. I don't care at all what color the eggs are