Tails grown - any idea on breeding?

[catcrazyuk]

Ok guys - here's some better pics of our unknown (hopefully!) girls, with the tails now fully grown.

Head shot (from the front, sadly) of Piper:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/mrsclucky/JD500018.jpg

Full length (sort of) of Piper showing leg colouring:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/mrsclucky/JD500022.jpg

Full length shot of Prue (showing legs too):

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/mrsclucky/JD500021.jpg

And finally, a close up of both tails:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/mrsclucky/JD500020.jpg

After days of trying to get pictures, these are the best I can do :-(

I was kinda worried that Piper might be a roo, but as the time has gone on, I'm convinced that she is really a she!

They are about 20 weeks old or so now. Apparently, they will lay white shelled eggs.

I hope these pics can help identify the breeding.

Thanks all!

 

[SterlingAcres]

Piper's a mix. Maybe crossed with silkie, looks like she's got a fro.
Pru could be a minorca or game mix as well.

Sorry I can't help more.

 

[catcrazyuk]

I'm pretty sure that Piper and Prue are from the same breeding...
When we bought them, the shed they were in contained about a quarter exactly like Piper, another quarter of the chicks were the same colour (Blue) but without the crest, another quarter looked exactly like Prue, the final quarter were the same colour as Prue (Black) but had the crest that Piper has... This is what's confusing me...

I'm beginning to think they are a Cochin/Polish cross. Would that make any sense?

Thanks for your help

 

[pkeeler]

Andalusians, blue and a black? Piper looks like my blue cochin, but without feathered feet. Most blue breeds only breed half the chicks blue, the others will be splash and black.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/Andal/BRKAndalusians.html

 

[catcrazyuk]

Oh my word!! That black Andalusian pullet in the pictures looks just like Prue!!
Hmm, how does that explain Piper's "hair-do" though? Is it possible that they are Andalusian crossed with something else?
The colouring on the blue Andalusians is almost exactly the same as Piper's (although I guess the colouring would be the same on any breed lol), with the darker head and neck and lighter body.
I did notice earlier that Piper has one (yep, just one!) light brown feather on one of her sides.

The simple solution for me would be to call the place I got them from and ask, but the people there aren't too friendly and I don't think my call would be appreciated at all

I guess, the next time someone asks, I'll just bluff my way and say they are Andalusian crosses (or that it's state secret and I'd have to kill them if I told

)

 

[pkeeler]

Yes, the crest does throw things off. I looked quickly, but couldn't see any crested breeds that have blue. Maybe somebody with more knowledge of them will chime in. Meanwhile, Andalusian Cross has a nice ring to it

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html