question about isa brown chicks

[dehaan]

I bought a half dozen isa brown chicks from tsc the other day, at least they were labled isa brown pullets. I would assume they are from townline hatchery because it's probably a half hour away. At any rate half the chicks are reddish/brown in color, half are more golden in color. I'm thinking I got a mix, maybe isa and golden comet or something. Is it possible for isa's to look different as chicks? I've never had them before so I don't know. Sorry no pictures at the moment

 

[Michael OShay]

Yes, it's definitely possible for them to be shaded somewhat different. Isa Browns and Golden Comets are two labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen. Since the roosters used in the Red Sex Link cross are often Production Reds which vary quite a bit in the shade of their red feathering, and since different breeds of silver gene hens are used, the chicks can vary in their reddish/brownish color quite a bit. However as long as your chicks are not white you have pullets and not cockerels. )

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I have seen many different shades of ISA Browns so I wouldn't worry. Like Michael OShay said unless they are white you have all pullets.

 

[Kev]

To add information- if they are red or gold with white on tails and necks they are Isa brown or red sexlinks with various names- golden comets etc. The hens are always this color while roosters are almost solid white.

If they are red with black tails, they are far more likely to be production reds. There's no real difference in color between the sexes for these until they are older. They are just about as likely to be sold straight run or sexed.

just saying this as tsc seems to be extremely notorious for getting the breeds completely wrong.

 

[Michael OShay]

To add information- if they are red or gold with white on tails and necks they are Isa brown or red sexlinks with various names- golden comets etc. The hens are always this color while roosters are almost solid white.

If they are red with black tails, they are far more likely to be production reds. There's no real difference in color between the sexes for these until they are older. They are just about as likely to be sold straight run or sexed.

just saying this as tsc seems to be extremely notorious for getting the breeds completely wrong.

X2 on that.

 

[BantamLover21]

Yes, it's definitely possible for them to be shaded somewhat different. Isa Browns and Golden Comets are two labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen. Since the roosters used in the Red Sex Link cross are often Production Reds which vary quite a bit in the shade of their red feathering, and since different breeds of silver gene hens are used, the chicks can vary in their reddish/brownish color quite a bit. However as long as your chicks are not white you have pullets and not cockerels. )

x2