WHAT BREED ARE MY CHICKS?

[Joshua Grundy]

(hello, I am new to Backyard-Chickens)
I have recently (the past year) decided to keep chickens.
Just for pleasure though, when they get old they'll just carry on being completely free range pets (no predators) and grow old and happy...

They're making great pets!
Such kind nature and they all have individual little quirks and personalities.
And wow, chickens are so intelligent!


Anyway, enough about my excitement for chickens ha ha...
WHAT BREED ARE MY CHICKS?

The three chickens/Hens we have are "Barred Rocks" (I think?).
I'm not enteirly sure on the breeds of the hens but I'm 95% sure they're "Barred Rocks"? I have attached picture of the hens in the hope someone can clarify their breed 100% for me which would be great to know for myself.

Our rooster/cockerel is most definitely an "Appenzeller" called Thomas who was gifted by a good friend who has a whole flock of "Appenzeller's".
Our three hens are only around 14Months old or maybe slightly younger or older.



This summer they all went broody and into crazy mode and wanted to be a mama so I let two of them sit on their clutch of eggs in their nests. We have four decent sized coops so both sitting hens had a coop to themselves.

The first sitting hen and 5 eggs under her and the second sitting hen had 3 eggs. ALL eggs hatched fine (1 week between each hens egg's hatched) and all chicks are extremely healthy and glowing with confidence. Both mamas are natural born mothers. Very protective and doing everything right!

I did have a few doubts just because they were different breeds and I wondered how healthy the chicks would turn out. Fortunately they're all doing great and growing really fast...


The chicks were almost completely jet black when hatched. The ones that hatched first are only around 10-11 days old. These are still mostly but not completely jet black. Their wings and tails have started to show streaks of brown. Also, around 5 chicks have a ginger/red/golden brown shade on their heads.
Maybe the colouring (if their mamas are "Barred Rocks") could indicate are black and brown Barred rock? Instead of the black and white colouring?


I have attached pictures of my Chickens/Hens, Appenzeller-Cockerel and also the chicks. Maybe someone would know what my breed of chicks would be called from these two parents? It would be fantastic to know!

Thank you, Joshua!

 

[junebuggena]

Mixed breeds, no specific name for them. Good news is that they are sexlinked. The ones with a white spot on the back of the head are your males.

 

[keesmom]

The hens are cuckoo Marans. The chicks aren't a breed, they're just mixes.

 

[Joshua Grundy]

Mixed breeds, no specific name for them. Good news is that they are sexlinked. The ones with a white spot on the back of the head are your males.

Oh, so no scientific name or anything ha ha.
I thought they'd have their own name instead of just been called mixed breed chickens?

Sexlinked?
Is it only mixed breeds that have the sexlinked capability.
The capability to tell gender from a day or so old?

So the ones with the white spots, they are 100% males?
Just because I have around 4 of the eight chicks with white colouring on their heads. I would only be keeping one male from the chicks because having too many males they would more than likely over-work the hens or fight too much.

Thanks again, Joshua! x

 

[junebuggena]

Oh, so no scientific name or anything ha ha.
I thought they'd have their own name instead of just been called mixed breed chickens? For example and lion and a tiger = Liger?
Thats no problem, Like I said. I just wondered if this cross had a specific name.

Sexlinked?
Is it only mixed breeds that have the sexlinked capability.
The capability to tell gender from a day or so old?

So the ones with the white spots, they are 100% males?
Just because I have around 4 of the eight chicks with white colouring on their heads. I would only be keeping one male from the chicks because having too many males they would more than likely over-work the hens or fight too much.

Thanks again, Joshua! x

Most sexlinks are cross breeds, due to the genetics needed. The white spot on the back of the head indicates the presence of the barring/cuckoo gene. A barred/cuckoo hen can only pass that gene to her male offspring. It's 100% accurate.

 

[Abriana]

the ones with white are males. Keep them until they grow older and you can see which is the best with the hens and has the best temperment.

 

[drumstick diva]

x2 junebuggena