What breed of hens do i have and are they hens?

[demolisher]

Good evening i recently got 13 new birds and im having trouble figuring out what breed they are , any ideas ? Thanks!( new to chicken farming)

 

[redsoxs]

Looks kind of like a black Australorp.
Also, stop by the New Member Forum so we can give you a proper BYC welcome. Here's the link https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/44/new-member-introductions

 

[demolisher]

I thought the same thing, hard to work this website, its going to take some getting used to

 

[junebuggena]

Is that gold on the neck feathers or is it just the photo?

 

[donrae]

I'm also seeing red/gold on the neck and chest. If that's the case, they're black sex links or mixed breed birds.

 

[drumstick diva]

agree

 

[demolisher]

Here is another photo of one , hope this helps. Also im averaging 2 eggs a day with 20 hens , is that normal? I dont know how old any of them are , got them in two batches (free) which may be why..

 

[donrae]

It's the same picture

There's usually a reason they're free. my guess is they're from spring 15 and have either molted already or are headed that way. It's normal for hens to take the winter off at this age, then resume production the next spring. Lots of folks sell them off at this point, not wanting to overwinter non producing birds. Myself, I'd rather keep a good layer over the winter and have her resume in the spring, than bother with brooding chicks and waiting 6 months for them to start laying. But everyone has their own management style.

 

[demolisher]

My bad it was suppose to be one with two hens not the same photo lol. Okay, however how do i know if they are good layers since i just got them, at this point it seems like it will be a gamble.. 22 birds ( 2 roosters) are quite a few to feed over the winter in my opinion, i will have to monitor how much food they go through over the next month and then decide whether or not to keep them i suppose. Also for the dust bath , i was researching on, is it okay just to use earth/sand from your property?

 

[donrae]

I don't give my birds anything special to dust bathe in, except ashes from the wood stove. Other than that, they use the plain ol dirt in the run when it's dry. when it's wet, they use the deep bedding in the coop. I call it spa time....