What did I get myself into???

[JJ--]

Hi,

First time raising chicks and I bought a Swedish Flower and an Olive Egger from the breeder. The problem is I don't know which one is the SF and which is the OE! Since the chicks look the same for both sexes, I also don't know what gender I have. We can't have roosters so I need help with identifying if they are boys. Help!!!!

I think this brown one is the OE and the grey one is the SF??? They are both around 5 weeks old. Note the red on the tail feathers is the red glow from the heat lamp.













Many thanks!
JJ-

 

[Farrier]

Your grey chick looks to be part marans, which is a breed commonly used for making OE's. I would say that your brown chick is the Swedish flower hen

 

[JJ--]

Here's one more picture of the brown chick.

 

[pattyhen]

Does the gray one have feathers on it's legs? I don't think a olvive egg layers has feathered feet.

 

[JJ--]

grey chick has feathers on legs.

 

[JJ--]

Here's the big question I guess.... Is the brown one a boy or girl? Is the grey one a boy or girl? I am sure that knowing which breed is which would help, but the breeder advised that the best way to know was to wait until it crows or lays an egg. I would prefer not to have angry neighbors so......

 

[Farrier]

Does the gray one have feathers on it's legs?  I don't think a olvive egg layers has feathered feet.  

Olive eggers can be created by breeding a blue egg laying chicken and a marans, hence the feathered feet.

 

[Farrier]

Here's the big question I guess....  Is the brown one a boy or girl?  Is the grey one a boy or girl?  I am sure that knowing which breed is which would help, but the breeder advised that the best way to know was to wait until it crows or lays an egg.   I would prefer not to have angry neighbors so......

I'm afraid that your brown chick is almost certainly a cockerel

 

[JJ--]

ok.... Is the grey one a girl then?

 

[Farrier]

5 weeks is a little too young to be sure, but grey isn't showing and obvious male signs