White Chickens

[mrs3rrl]

How can you tell the breed of a white chicken? I bought 4 chicks from the local feed store.

One has feathered feet, so I think it's a White Cochin, or white Langshan. But the pictures of baby chicks of these breeds are smoky, and this was creamy white with just a hint of smoky on her back. She has little to no comb yet.

The others all look the same... as a matter of fact, I've put colored dots on their heads so I can tell them apart. They are all white, and their comb is larger that the other one. When I look at different pictures of white chickens, they all look the same: Leghorn, Rhode Island White, White Rocks, White Orpingtons, White Giants, White Wyandottes. How can you tell them apart?

 

[Matt A NC]

There is more then just feather color to finding what breed.

Leg color, skin color, comb shape, color of ear lobes, adult body shape and size. Once you have all of these you can find the breed name.

Matt

Edited to add that it can be difficult as chicks and you may just have to wait till they grow up.

 

[mrs3rrl]

Quote:
thanks, Matt. I guess I was also asking how to tell the difference between these white feathered breeds, even as adults. In the pictures, they all look the same to me.

 

[aussieheelr]

Quote:
what he said.

combs: single, pea, rose, walnut, "v" etc.
Leg color: white, yellow, black, green...
body type: robust/meaty, narrow
tail: cushion, tall, long, none...

If you're newer, the more you look at chicken breeds the more obvious some things will come to you. It's also easier to tell once the chicks are grown up.