Look what we found in our nesting boxes the other day...green and white eggs. Our flock has Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orrpingtons, Barred Rocks, and 2 other breeds that we've yet to determine. We adopted a few hens from a neighbor before we moved and she wasn't sure what these were. After some online search I'm thinking that of the 4 hens, 2 are Americanas and 2 are a Spanish Game hen. But I really have no idea, so maybe you guys who have had chickens for a while can help me out...
We have 2 of these and I *think* they are Americaunas. I *believe* they are the ones laying the greeen eggs. Their wattle isn't very big and I've heard that they need to have a mature wattle before they start laying. And since we didn't get any green eggs before they stopped laying for the winter I'm thinking these are the green egg girls.
See these girls with the big yellowish earlobs? I think these are the white egg layers. Their comb is huge and floppy and they have a large wattle so I think they matured faster than the other mystery hens. Also, we got one white egg before they stopped laying for the winter.
We call this lady "Abraham" in honor of Abraham Lincoln because...well... she has a beard. She is supposed to be a Buff Orrpington. We got her from the feed store at the same time we got our other Orrpintons. She's whiter, with almost no wattle and has greeenish legs. She's also very tame because the kids love her. I don't think she is laying, she's pretty low on the pecking order and is smaller than the other birds.
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I have noticed that my hens have large combs that flop over when they are laying and in the winter when they are not laying they shrink back down. This is how I tell which ones are laying. I can also pet or stroke the hens that are laying and they will duck down. If they're not laying they run. (This is because they are ready to mate with the rooster.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, I hadn't noticed the combs shrinking but then again, I wasn't looking. I'll have to look for that next winter.
DeleteYour first photo looks like our auracanas :) They lay beautiful green or teal eggs.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, it's so fun to find those first eggs.
How exciting! I have been wanting to talk to you about your hens. We are in preparation for having hens and building coop and run. Of course, we need to move to the US first, but you get my point. Some of the breeds you mentioned are on our list.
ReplyDeleteI know you have a coop. How many hens do you have total? How large is your chicken run? I also wanted to ask you if you vaccinate your hens for anything?
Thanks, Ladies! This is our first year to have chickens and we're still learning.
ReplyDeleteRachel, we have 32 hens and 1 rooster. We're hoping to get more next month but we haven't quite decided how many. I'll have to measure the run...it's pretty big. We didn't vaccinate the hens, but they may have been vaccinated at the hatchery. We got them (mainly) from the local feed stores.
My money is on Abraham being your "Easter Egger." A lot of hatcheries don't take the effort to keep the colored egg layer strains of Aracauna (rumpless) and Americauna (with a tail) pure/separate. The bearded trait is common among them, though it does appear in a few other breeds. Abe is definitely no Buff Orpington! :-) Your top one looks an awful lot like my Welsummer hens, but not exactly. She could be a mix. Look up Sicilian Buttercup. They have white ear lobes and are white egg layers. I once had one that was my best layer. The game fowl possibility Is a good one,too. I try to keep a few in my flock because they seem to be more in tune with their instincts, go broody, and make wonderful mothers. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI may have to have the kids on "maternity ward" duty over spring break. I really want to know if Abraham is laying. That's good to know about the game fowl. We "might" try hatching our own eggs next year so having a hen with good instincts would be nice.
DeleteI would say the top and last are both americauna/aracauna. The fluffy cheeks and beard are common on Easter Egg chickens. Both would give green/blue eggs (sometimes pink, but we've only ever gotten blue/green) That middle one is one I have never seen before- I would bet it's the white egg layer too, but no clue what type
ReplyDeleteWouldn't pink eggs be nice?
DeleteI've been told you can tell what color eggs the hen will lay by the color of their legs or earlobes. My Araucana hens all have beards and green legs ~ they lay green or blue eggs. Your second and last photo looks like Araucanas. The birds in the third photo look just like my Welsummers, but mine don't have white earlobes. Welsummers lay dark chocolate brown eggs, but since your birds have white earlobes, I'm thinking they are the white egg layers.
ReplyDeleteI've had chickens for over 50 years and I'm still learning something new all the time! Enjoy the adventure ~ and the eggs!
wow! There is so much to learn about chickens. And something always seems to come up. We are definitely having fun with them.
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ReplyDeletePerhaps you know this by now, but the white laying hen with the large comb and white ears is a CS Brown Leghorn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I didn't know that.
DeleteBy the way, so glad I found your blog, via Balancing Beauty and Bedlam!
ReplyDeleteHeather