Is there any way to tell if my birds are purebred?

[goldfinches]

I have some BCM, Blue Andalusians, and FBCM from a breeder. I didn't order them, they're just what they sent me, calling them "Olive Eggers". I'm not sure if she would be able to tell me if they're pure, since she wasn't even able to send me what I ordered or was told I was receiving.

Anyway, is there a way I can tell if they're pure instead of a mix? If I post pics, can experts in the breeds online here tell me, do you think? From what I can tell, they're pure, but I don't know much about these breeds.

Is the best way to wait until they start laying and see if they lay the right color egg?

 

[Kevin565]

How old are they now?

 

[Nicole01]

Posting pictures of the chicken's in question is really helpful.

 

[nurse_turtle]

"Olive eggers" are not pure breeds. Just like easter eggers. I'm not sure about the genetics, but I believe Olive Eggers to be a result of a dark egg breed rooster over a blue/green egg laying hen.

 

[Georgia Boy 1970]

I agree with Nicole01 pics would help.Also there is a thread for marans on the breeds and genetics section,you may have to do a search. If you could post your pics there I am sure someone could help you. Hope this helps.

 

[goldfinches]

They're about 10 weeks 3 days right now.

I just didn't want to post pics unless we can tell just by looking if they're pure. I thought we could, thanks for the replies!

(I'm wanting to know i I have pure BCM, I don't think they're olive eggers, but not sure if I can tell until they start laying.)

 

[popsicle]

There is a chance that you could tell if your birds are Olive Eggers or Marans by looking at the comb. Olive Eggers will frequently (not always) have a pea comb, while Marans have a straight comb.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Olive eggers are a cross between a dark laying breed (marans, welsummers, penedesencas) and a blue laying breed. (Ameraucana's, Araucana, sometimes EE's) Typically the offspring is then crossed back to the dark laying breed to further darken the olive eggs. They can have pea combs, single combs, muffs or no muffs, etc based on which breeds were used and how many crosses have been made. Single comb offspring will typically lay brown eggs, as the blue egg gene is closely tied to the pea comb. And yes, they can look pure, lay brown eggs, etc and still be a crossbred.

 

[goldfinches]

Yep, she supposedly sent me OE that were a cross between her Black Copper Marans and her Wheaten Ameraucanas. I think, though, that she's mistaken and I received pure BCM's. None of them have pea combs, and except for the fact that they have slate legs, they seem to be purebreds. I was told on here that BCM have pink legs, that's my biggest holdup.

 

[questions543]

They dont look like pure BCM. Mostly because they arent dark enough and some dont have feathered feet. I think they're crosses. The thing is that they dont have any beards or muffs and no ameraucana characteristics which is weird. One of them does look like a pure BCM