Identifying Breeds - Please help!

[EeyoreBlue]

We acquired some chickens at Christmas, after they'd been abandoned. However, we have no idea what breeds they are, so in the hope that someone on here might be able to assist, I've posted some photos - any suggestions gratefully received!

The lady in the middle picture lays blue eggs!

 

[dinosaw]

I would say they are all cross breeds Eeyore, the boy in the first photo is predominately Barred Rock though not pure judging by the wings and tail. The closest I have seen to the girl in the same photo is a hybrid called the Magpie which is Barred Rock x Rhode White I believe though it could be some other combo. The hen in the second photo is part legbar which is why you are getting the blue eggs but again not a pure breed. No idea on the rest I'm afraid sorry.

 

[EeyoreBlue]

My mistake, its the lady in pic 2 who gives the blue eggs.

Thanks for your sugestions, I'm really grateful.

 

[Nick]

The one in the middle, who you say lays blue eggs, is very reminiscent of a Chalk Hill Blue - a hybrid produced by Chalk hill poultry near Salisbury. My example has a much bigger hair do though….

by which I mean tufty feathers standing up behind her comb…

 

[Marigold]

Yes a 'proper' Cream Legbar should have a feathery crest on her head and a much bigger, floppy comb. CLB crosses are quite common, and your pretty bird has the genes to lay blue eggs and the right colour plumage as well. My CLB. is a very intelligent and bossy little bird, top hen, tells the others what to do and where to go.
The cockerel in the last picture is a handsome bird. I wonder where his rose comb came from?

 

[chrismahon]

We have cockerel resulting from a straight comb crossed with a rose comb and it resulted in a rose comb with large 'bobbles' like the bottom photo. Discovered a great book in the Charity Shop. 'Choosing and Keeping Chickens' by Chris Graham ISBN978-0-7537-1552-9 has some really useful guidance on all aspects of poultry keeping plus some great sections on breeds. Worth getting a copy and having a look EeyoreBlue.

 

[dinosaw]

I have that one too Chris, lots of nice photos of the breeds with brief histories and notes on temperament and egg laying

 

[dinosaw]

Also thought this was an interesting hand drawn guide to the rarer types of chicken combs, if you click the picture it goes full size
http://tbnranch.com/2012/01/15/the-distictive-types-of-chicken-combs/

 

[Marigold]

SOS that last cockerel doesn't actually have a rose comb, then? More of a strawberry comb, according to that link, is that right?

 

[Icemaiden]

I'd agree with Nick; your blue egg layer looks very much like my Chalkhill Blue. The hen on the right in your first photo looks quite like an araucana. Does she have a tufty head & / or lay blue or olive green eggs?

 

[dinosaw]

I would say that it still is a rose comb Marigold because of the spike at the end apparently strawberry combs don't have a raised spike, the closest I have come across on the net to that particular comb for size and shape is the Derbyshire Red Cap. The Katie Thear book also has a good little table of combs and wattles but mine is in storage at the mo.

 

[Marigold]

Having had another look at the pic, I think I thought the bird's head was on the other way round and thus I didn't 'see' the spike. When I looked at the chart I realised a rose comb had to have this, so I assumed the cockerel was a strawberry. We live and learn on here! Nice lot of hybrid vigour in this flock, and it's given us something to talk about.