Hi all, Someone just brought over 8 more day-old chicks, and I'm trying to figure out what kind they are. They're pale yellow with a stripes along the spine in black and brown. Does anybody have any ideas? On a side note, this means I have to rework the plans for my coop, as we're now over 40 including the layers that are coming in. Oh well, back to the drawing board. : ) Thanks in advance

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 24, 2001

Answers

Could be Auracanas (sp). My Auracana babies looked similar to quail. Stripes and all...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 24, 2001.

Auracana's would be my bet,they look just like quail only bigger.Daryll

-- Daryll (twincrk@hotmail.com), April 24, 2001.

Actually a lot of kinds start with little chipmunk stripes. All I've ever noticed consistant about such is that they will probably not be solid color, but have wings and head of a different color than the body. We always get excited about them, as they turn out especially pretty.

-- Cora-Vee Caswell (coravee@locl.net), April 24, 2001.

Thanks all-

Aracaunas would be fun, but it'll be kind of neat just waiting around to see how they'll turn out, too!

I'm getting a little concerned about these guys having enough room to run around during the day, now that we have so many. Does anyone know how much yard space they need per bird?

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 24, 2001.

I had a Bantam that started out looking much like you describe.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 25, 2001.

Araucanas have green/grey legs most of the time. (Some colors don't, but most do.) I have 6 hens and a 5x25 turn-out. I decided last year that that wasn't enough and am adding another 5x40 this year. They probably don't NEED that much, but I'm just fencing in another side of my garden to aid in keeping out weeds and wildlife. (The chicken yard will now be L-shaped around the back side of the garden.) During the winter they are more than happy in their 5x10 plus the 25x40 garden to run in. They till the garden ever so nicely. After turning them out in the garden for the past 4 winters I now have about 6 inches of worm castings and when you scratch your hand over the soil in the summer the worms just boil out. They till in any and all compostables that I put in there. They give wonderful tasting eggs and upon occasion, they even taste great. And they can't get hoof and mouth! What more could you ask for?!

-- Sheryl Adams (radams@sacoriver.net), April 25, 2001.

What color are the shanks? This is a big determining factor in identifying the breed. Also the comb type is important. You might have to wait a couple weeks before you can tell if they're developing a straight, pea, or whatever type of comb.

In regards to Araucanas: Most Araucanas these days aren't true Araucanas. A true Araucana is a "rumpless" chicken -- lacks tailfeathers. I've gotten most of my birds from McMurray Hatchery in Iowa, and they note that their Araucanas are really "Americanas", which is a cross. Still get the pretty earmuffs & colored eggs, mostly shades of blue & green, but they do have a tail. Not good for exhibition, but great birds.

-- Lynn Bixler (ljbixler@dtgnet.com), May 01, 2001.