What Breed?

[Shezadandy]

I bought chicks for a broody, so I wasn't too worried about breed, just finding babies little enough for momma hen. I was told these two were Silver Laced Wyandottes-
but based on other SLW pictures/videos it doesn't seem right … so I'm looking to find out what they are.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Those are not SLW. I have a SLW and does not look anything like yours. Mine has more Silver in the feathers. These look like a mix between a SLW and an Australorp. I have both of these breeds.

Hopefully someone else can tell you what breed these are.

 

[EggWalrus]

Not sure what they are. Ain't no dang telling! But they are pretty even if the turn out to be mutts.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Here is what our Silver Hen looks like. When she was a chick she had more silver than yours does right now.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Those are not slw. Were they from a hatchery, store or private seller?

 

[Shezadandy]

Those are not slw. Were they from a hatchery, store or private seller?

They were from Wilco, which I think orders from Welp Hatchery - their chick breed pictures match those on Wilco's website anyways - I just went through Welp's entire catalog and didn't find anything that matched- that's not to say that's who Wilco still uses.

They were jet black as chicks and just started showing the white pattern- they've got the beetle green/purple showing through and their legs and undersides of the feet are black. Friendly little things, very smart. Their two 'sisters' are Australorps - I don't think these were in the same bin. It could be an age difference thing, but they're both bigger than the Australorps.

I was more focused on finding littles small enough for momma hen to accept and raise (she did)- having had GLWs I should have been more suspicious that the SLWs would start off jet black (obviously they don't) when I asked.

 

[Shezadandy]

Not sure what they are. Ain't no dang telling! But they are pretty even if the turn out to be mutts.

I have no problem with mutts! Maybe one of the hatchery breeding roos was naughty and jumped into a different pen of hens. These girlies are cute, calm and friendly, despite having been raised by a broody with little handling - so partially I want to know what they are so I can look for them again.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

They were from Wilco, which I think orders from Welp Hatchery - their chick breed pictures match those on Wilco's website anyways - I just went through Welp's entire catalog and didn't find anything that matched- that's not to say that's who Wilco still uses.

They were jet black as chicks and just started showing the white pattern- they've got the beetle green/purple showing through and their legs and undersides of the feet are black. Friendly little things, very smart. Their two 'sisters' are Australorps - I don't think these were in the same bin. It could be an age difference thing, but they're both bigger than the Australorps.

I was more focused on finding littles small enough for momma hen to accept and raise (she did)- having had GLWs I should have been more suspicious that the SLWs would start off jet black (obviously they don't) when I asked.

They look like the black dual purpose/broiler types being marketed as Asian black, etc. And the additional information (size, etc) support that......

 

[Shezadandy]

They look like the black dual purpose/broiler types being marketed as Asian black, etc. And the additional information (size, etc) support that......

Interesting! Time will tell - they're definitely growing faster. No sign of being cockerels yet though- so I may actually get girls. With any luck they'll live up to the laying end of being a dual purpose bird. They've been just as active as their Australorp sisters, exploring all over the place. Next time I visit Wilco I'll have to keep an eye out. They sometimes have breeds they don't list on their website.

 

[Shezadandy]

UPDATED PHOTOS:

Here are my pullets, nearly full grown. All four were girls (whew!) and they're darn close to laying eggs.

Any further guesses about the breed? In the sun they're very beetle green/purple on their backs.