What breed of hen is this, anyone?????

[crj]

Hello,

I just got this hen today. Someone gave her to an older gentlemen in Sep. Said she has not laid any eggs so that tells me she may be young. To him it is just a chicken, meaning he didn't know the breed..... lol. He has bantams (doesn't know the breed either) and this chicken was a little big for his birds. Very sweet man..... lol. Loves his bantams though.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

So, is she a large fowl?

The color is Birchen. As for the breed... perhaps a Marans?

 

[ve]

She is Iowa Blue

 

[ChickenWisperer]

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I thought the white on the IB's was heavier, extending down into the breast?

 

[ve]

Not all of them. I have one from Ideal-she is even darker.

 

[StarLover21]

Yes, Iowa blue.

 

[crj]

Quote:
No, she isn't that large. Bigger then a batam though. I have a feeling she is still young. I've never heard of an Iowa Blue. How interesting. I will have to look up that breed. She is pretty. I hvaen't heard of a Birchen either! I'll look that breed up as well. Thanks.

I looked up the 2 breeds and she does look more like a Birchen.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
No, she isn't that large. Bigger then a batam though. I have a feeling she is still young. I've never heard of an Iowa Blue. How interesting. I will have to look up that breed. She is pretty. I hvaen't heard of a Birchen either! I'll look that breed up as well. Thanks.

I looked up the 2 breeds and she does look more like a Birchen.

Yep, well, if she's small but bigger than the bantams I'd say it's likely that she's an IB. They're pretty rare. She's a pretty hen

 

[Emptywagon2]

I am new and still learning so please don't get mad...but that looks like a roo to me. Do I see saddle feathers and hackle feathers? The comb look really red for a young bird too. Not knowing much about the breed, I might be mistaken.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
Nobody's gonna get mad

The redness of the comb is due to her beginning to lay. However, it's not nearly large enough for a males.

You don't see saddle feathers. Well, you do see them but they are not the saddle feathers of the roo. The hackle feathers may look male to you due to the color compared to the black base color. This is what the hackle/saddle feathers of a male look like this -