Menagerie
This chick thing just gets more interesting every day. See, the farmer I got the eggs from had a ton of chicken breeds, and let her chooks go pretty much free-range. So these chicks are all mutts… ahem, cross-breeds. The breeds the farm had are (for the most part) good laying breeds, so I’m not too worried about future production. I’m just practically dying with curiosity as to what the chicks will look like when mature!
Here are the breeds she listed: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, white & brown Leghorns, Welsummers, golden- and silver-laced Wyandottes, Silver Phoenix, Salmon Faverolles, and Americaunas. (It wasn’t clear from her email whether the Rhodies and Welsummers were in a separate cage, or in the barn with everyone else where we got the eggs.) So it’s anybody’s guess what these chicks – and their offspring! – will turn out as. Exciting!
Unfortunately they were all so black and undifferentiated at hatching that I couldn’t really keep track of who came from which color shell.
I had thought she* was an Americauna, but I’m starting to think maybe brown Leghorn instead. But what’s up with the feathered legs? Definitely some Salmon Faverolle genes in there! I think she came from a blue shell, which could mean either Americauna or Faverolle.
I’m hoping she’s a Buff Orpington. But I don’t remember the farmer saying she had any… so she’s probably mostly white Leghorn or (leg-feather-free) Salmon Faverolle. She definitely came from the white shell, which makes Leghorn dominance most likely.
There are three of these nearly-identical guys – most definitely Barred-Rock-looking. See the dot on the top of the head? I’ve got two BR’s already, Bossy and Jopari.
This one’s coloring is just odd. Maybe a touch of Silver-Laced Wyandotte?
This is Brownie, aka Turkey Neck. She’s a loudmouth. I have absolutely no idea what she could be, but she’s got interesting coloration if you look closely enough.
And lastly, a few boringish black ones.
Check out those bright yellow toes on the all-black one, left. The one with black toes, right, has browny-speckledy-ish wing tips. None of the breeds the farmer listed is a solid black, so who knows? If it looks like they’re going to stay this way, I’ll have to email her again to ask where it might have come from.
If only all the breeds of chicks didn’t look so exactly like each other and make it so hard to ID the bits and pieces evidenced here. My curiosity! Must! Be! Satiated! Anyone have any ideas?
* I have no idea of the sexes. But because they’re so cute and fuzzy I’ll just be calling them all “she” until I know better. 
March 15th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
They are all so gawky and cute! I like “Skunk” the best.Are they all “laying” breeds?
March 16th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Well, they should be! Dual-purpose breeds, that is – layers that get big enough to be harvested for meat eventually.
March 15th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
WOW! they are amazing! that black and white one is really fascinating. salmon fav’s have an extra toe…but the feathered legs could be part of them. i dont think thats buff orp, tho. we have some really great mixes…i love seeing all the combinations
March 16th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Hey Ohiofarmgirl! An extra toe, huh? I didn’t count them but I sure will the next time I change their bedding. I thought maybe it was the fav’s influence because I don’t think any of the other varieties she listed, have feathered legs. Of course she also didn’t list any black breeds, so there may certainly be a mystery character in the loop.
I made them a chicken tractor scaled down from your turkey tractor plans… stay tuned and as soon as I can remember to take a picture, I’ll give you a peek.
March 17th, 2011 at 5:11 am
We have a buff orpington that runs at me when she hears my voice. She’s part dog I swear. Great personality & very good layer. Our Rhode Island Red was great, she died yesterday.
We also have a “used” bird that is supposed to be a lakenvelder mix. We got her as a laying hen so I don’t know her age & she wasn’t hand-raised so she’s not super friendly. We’re going to replace the Rhode Island Red soon, likely with another of the same breed. They’re great birds.
March 17th, 2011 at 9:41 am
The Buffs are supposed to be very friendly. I’m going to the feed store today to pick up 2 silver-laced-wyandottes and 2 Rhodies… if they have Buffs there I’m gonna be really tempted to get some too. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all these birds though; my chicken tractor is turning out to kind of suck (i just don’t know how to attach wheels right) and if I put them in with my other birds I’m gonna have to do a serious coop expansion. Sigh. Not more projects!!!!!
March 20th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Update from the farmer herself:
“i do have buff orpingtons…
the black with brown wings tips could be a cornish cornish cross as i have dark cornishes.
turkey neck looks like green legs and so americauna cross.
i have a couple of chicks here that are black with white under and they look australorp, but for this generation i do not have australorps in the barn. i do have a black sexlink hen or two though.”
Huh!