What breed is this?

[PrettyMcChicken]

I got chicks back in September from Ace and was supposed to have gotten two cream legbars. They looked identical as chicks, so much so that I couldn’t tell them apart, but as the two pullets grew they started to look significantly different. They’re about 6 months now and neither have laid their first egg yet, but they look completely different now. One is a textbook cream legbar (named Creamie) with the coloring and crest, and the other is a mystery (named Kitty). Kitty is reddish brown and bigger than a cream legbar… what breed could she be? This is my first flock, I got two cream legbars for their egg color so I’m really curious as to what eggs Kitty is going to supply us. What breed could’ve gotten mistaken as a cream legbar for this mixup?

Photos show the two girls as chicks, Kitty as a pullet, and photos of Kitty and Creamie as almost fully mature hens for reference.

Literally as I posted this, Kitty laid our first egg of the flock! this is her egg color!

 

[nuthatched]

Creamie looks like a pure legbar, kitty looks like a new Hampshire

 

[nuthatched]

She could be a New Hampshire, but most likely is one of the many layer varieties offered by the hatcheries, which aren't breeds but brands.

There's a few hundred of those brands, with nuanced differences between hatcheries. What a pain.

 

[JedJackson]

She could be a New Hampshire, but most likely is one of the many layer varieties offered by the hatcheries, which aren't breeds but brands.

 

[JedJackson]

There's a few hundred of those brands, with nuanced differences between hatcheries. What a pain.

There are so many that the differences are almost meaningless. At least they specify egg color and laying capacity by variety, since that is what's most important.

 

[PrettyMcChicken]

She could be a New Hampshire, but most likely is one of the many layer varieties offered by the hatcheries, which aren't breeds but brands.

The guy who runs out Ace in Tucson is amazing and very reputable which is why I felt comfortable getting the chicks from them, a lot of other backyard chickens owners highly recommended them to me, and all of my other chickens are great, beautiful and match their breeds, which is why I’m so confused haha! But the chicks looked identical at 2 days old so I understand the mixup.. just curious as to what she actually is.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Id call and ask where he gets the chicks from. And what varieties were supposed to be in that batch you bought from. Then you can go on that hatchery website to see what looks most likely if his answer doesn’t confirm it for you. But it likely will. (Like if he got in a variety that has chicks that look like legbars and his staff put one in the wrong bin. Thats the likely scenario I think. )

A hatchery ooops is also possible, but usually less common since they keep the varieties more separated until they build shipments (less in and out and potential for mixing). Or at least that’s what I’ve seen in the hatchery tour videos I’ve watched.

 

[nuthatched]

Do you know where your Ace gets their chicks?

 

[SilverBirds]

Creamie looks a tad dark for a Cream Legbar so she's probably crossed with something. Kitty will most likely be an EE.

 

[PrettyMcChicken]

Do you know where your Ace gets their chicks?

No I’m not sure where…