Please help sexing our peachicks

[StarPanama]

Our two peachicks were born on Christmas Day 2008 and we still have no idea what sex they are. There is no diff. in size (legs etc.) and so we think that they may be the same sex. We thought that they may both be male due to the neck coloring, however, the mother was white/brown with coloring on her neck. Any help is grately appreciated as we are lost.

 

[chickenzoo]

Looks like you have two girls/peahens, no barring on the backs.

Another way to tell w/ IB's- Males will have a burnt Sienna red flight feathers. Females will have brown, even as peachicks.

 

[Kev]

Both Blue girls.

Mother sounds like she may be black shoulder(mostly white with brown/black streaks) or pied(a pied female is brown with clear patches of solid white- like a pinto pony)

p.s. Blue girls like these normally have shiny green feathers on necks, this is normal and to be expected. Only boys ever show any blue. At that age, a boy would have a neck that is almost completely covered in blue/green shiny feathers.

 

[deerman]

Yes two indiablue hens should layed next year.
Here is pic of Blackshoulder hens. Does the mother look like this?

 

[StarPanama]

Thank you ... we are so happy that they are girls. The mother did look like the two in the photos except a little more brown (and with some coloring around the neck). Thinking about it the mother did walk with a very accentuated neck movement (which the peachicks also do). The father just walks normally ... Has anyone else seen this or am I just imagining it.
My next question has to be what will happen when they mature .. will the father be interested in them (sexually). Is this OK?
All advise is so greatly appreciated.

 

[Kev]

Thought I was the only one who noticed that- the girls moving their necks different from the boys! It also kind of looks like an accordion playing, right? Especially when they are excited or alarmed? Some young boys do this too but usually they don't do it so much once they are fully adult.

Blackshoulder hens can really vary a lot, some are much paler than deerman's picture, others are so dark they are more black than white. Many in between. Same thing in regards to the coloring on neck- some have none, most have a little patch high up on neck. Then there are spaldings, which are a mix of two species- Indian and Green.. spalding girls in black shoulder color can have very green necks. Also, spaldings can move their necks kinda funny so that's another possibility however your two girls look very typical India Blue in color.

Yes the father will breed the two once they are old enough. It will be OK. It's only bad if inbreeding goes on for several generations with no new blood added. A lot of people will object to this idea however inbreeding goes on far more often and widespread than most realize or want to admit.

 

[deerman]

The top hen is a Purple BS, The bottom hen is A dark pied BS(blue) You can see the white throat patch.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
Does the other hen have a throat patch too but maybe not as evident since it's facing forward therefore hiding part of it?

 

[deerman]

no, just lighter color. The blue Bs , came out of my blackshoulder pieds. also thats another reason I knew.