- Jul 4, 2020
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2 weeks ago we received an order of 8 chicks from Meyer Hatchery. We ordered a mottled cochin bantam, a bantam steele egger, a bantam easter egger, a bantam green queen, a bantam white crested black polish, 2 white crested splash polish, and the Meyer "meal maker". We've had some difficulty identifying who's who, mainly because a few of the "egger" mixes we ordered have very variable looks. However, I believe I have them all figured out except for two, one of whom must be the green queen and one who must be our meal maker surprise. Mystery chick #1 is brown and black with muffs, a pea comb, and feathered feet. She has no crest and is very very tiny in size. I suspect this one may be the green queen. But that leaves mystery chick #2... She's very reminiscent of a grey-toned cream legbar to me. She has a straight comb and crest, no muffs and clean feet. She's got faint chipmunk striping visible but is very grey. As her feathers come in, I'm starting to notice a very tattered texture that reminds me of the shredder gene on lavender orpingtons. I was totally stumped as to what she could be until the thought struck me.. could she be an opal legbar? This seems utterly bizarre because those chicks go for 70+ dollars and whatever our meal maker is was free, but what are the odds of creating a egger mix that looks so much like one? Anyway, here are pictures of both mystery chicks for your viewing pleasure and as a reference.