What breed are my 3 week olds?

[Dean126]

I bought 4 chicks from my local feed store and I have no clue what breed of chickens I have. I was hoping some of you experts could help me out here. Because I havnt the slightest idea. Im sure at least one has to be mixed breed but if anybody could help me out that would be awesome...

Also, I have a suspicion that the brown one in the last picture may be a rooster because his comb is more red and slightly more defined than the others, and the coloring of his feathers. ( I know its almost impossible to tell at this age but guesses are appreciated!)

 

[featherhead007]

I saw your pics, and read your post. but I have no idea. Sorry

 

[Dean126]

I saw your pics, and read your post. but I have no idea. Sorry

Thank you for trying! I know my breeds decently well but this is the first time I've had chicks and I'm stumped.

 

[NatJ]

Also, I have a suspicion that the brown one in the last picture may be a rooster because his comb is more red and slightly more defined than the others, and the coloring of his feathers. ( I know its almost impossible to tell at this age but guesses are appreciated!)

I agree, he looks like a male.
Some males are easy to tell at this age, and he looks like one of them.


Things I'm seeing about the chicks:
The male has a pea comb.
The gold one with barring has green feet and I think a pea comb too.
The other two I can't see the comb, but I think I'm seeing a bit of muffs on the faces.
The gold/white one has green feet, and the all-white one has blue feet.
White is common in many breeds of chicken, but the other three do not match the coloring of any specific breed I am familiar with.

Putting all those things together, and knowing that Easter Eggers are pretty common and come in many colors and combinations of colors, I think you have four Easter eggers.

 

[Dean126]

I agree, he looks like a male.
Some males are easy to tell at this age, and he looks like one of them.


Things I'm seeing about the chicks:
The male has a pea comb.
The gold one with barring has green feet and I think a pea comb too.
The other two I can't see the comb, but I think I'm seeing a bit of muffs on the faces.
The gold/white one has green feet, and the all-white one has blue feet.
White is common in many breeds of chicken, but the other three do not match the coloring of any specific breed I am familiar with.

Putting all those things together, and knowing that Easter Eggers are pretty common and come in many colors and combinations of colors, I think you have four Easter eggers.

I really appreciate the thought and diligence you put into that. I have the same suspicion, but I've never had anything but pure breeds so I was a bit thrown off. I did think that EEs had green legs though. And my white one has blue legs and the brown one has yellow. Or are the leg colors variable in EEs?

 

[NatJ]

Or are the leg colors variable in EEs?

Highly variable.

Easter Eggers generally lay green or blue eggs, and often look sort-of like Ameraucanas (pea combs, muff/beard, dark legs.) But the hatcheries are not really selecting for any traits other than laying of colored eggs, so that's why they have such a variety of traits. (I say they "generally" lay green or blue eggs, because many hatcheries state that an occasional hen might lay other colored eggs-- probably comes from crossing in good layers of other breeds, and then being just a little sloppy in selecting again for the right egg colors.)

I really appreciate the thought and diligence you put into that.

I tend to treat these kind of like a logic puzzle. "Can it be this breed? No, because ___." Sometimes I list out my logic because it helps me keep it straight, as well as helping other people see what I'm thinking or where I'm wrong

 

[Dean126]

Highly variable.

Easter Eggers generally lay green or blue eggs, and often look sort-of like Ameraucanas (pea combs, muff/beard, dark legs.) But the hatcheries are not really selecting for any traits other than laying of colored eggs, so that's why they have such a variety of traits. (I say they "generally" lay green or blue eggs, because many hatcheries state that an occasional hen might lay other colored eggs-- probably comes from crossing in good layers of other breeds, and then being just a little sloppy in selecting again for the right egg colors.)



I tend to treat these kind of like a logic puzzle. "Can it be this breed? No, because ___."

I do the same. Its fun trying to test my skills!