What breed is this?

[SteevK]

Hello world
As everyone seems to enjoy pic’s of their girls, so here’s mine. I got them second hand with the coop and was told the black one was a Black Star and the brown one was a Columbine. She lays blue eggs, but all the photo’s I have seen of Columbine’s don’t look like this one! Any ideas? I know you shouldn’t have favourites (like the kids), but I must admit, my favourite chook is the one my daughter made me out of Plasticine for Fathers Day (I don’t know what that one is either).

[Nicos]

Last one is deffo a Chuccus Plasticinus - very rare!

[Flummery]

I love the plasticine one too. Can't help but smile, can you? Can't help with the others though.

[Munch]

I have a Heritage Skyline, she lays blue eggs and is identical to your "columbine"!

She is a hybrid cross with Cream Legbar to create the blue eggs. I think you will find many different breeders have different names of the chooks.

I have a "Mendlesham Blue" (thats what my supplier calls them) but the are also called Bluebelles as far as I know.

Not sure if I have actually been of any help but hey ho! I try!

[RichmondHens]

Ditto what Munch says. There are all sorts of names out there for a handful of popular hybrids.

I may be mistaken but in the first picture she looks like she has scaley leg mite. Are the legs rough to the touch with scales starting to stick out? If so then you should treat all the hens as it is pretty contagious.

[Suechooks]

The Black Star is just like my Black Rocks! Love the plasticine one too!

[Glutton4...]

The Black one looks like my Copper Black Marans.

[Suechooks]

The Black one looks like my Copper Black Marans.

I got some baby ones of those!

[SteevK]

Thank you all for you comments and thank you RH for spotting the scaly leg mite. I thought everything was OK as I took them to the vets just after I got them. (Obviously not a vet who was used to dealing with chickens). Having had a quick Google it looks like I’ll need to break out the Vasaline. Is this the best method, has anyone got any other preferences?

[Nicos]

Vaseline works a treat...you just need to keep applying it!
Ever so easy at bedtime!

[baldrick]

the blue egg layer looks like our spike who is a cream legbar.

[RichmondHens]

Thank you all for you comments and thank you RH for spotting the scaly leg mite. I thought everything was OK as I took them to the vets just after I got them. (Obviously not a vet who was used to dealing with chickens). Having had a quick Google it looks like I’ll need to break out the Vasaline. Is this the best method, has anyone got any other preferences?

I use surgical spirit which contrary to popular belief doesn't hurt. It's a bit faffy, involving holding the legs up to the hock in a jar of spirit for three minutes to suffocate the mite and should be repeated after one and two weeks, and certainly for bigger birds a two man job. However it is effective. All birds using the same coop should be done, even those without symptoms. There are various sprays on the market too but having not tried those I don't know how effective they are.

[polo]

I use surgical spirit which contrary to popular belief doesn't hurt. It's a bit faffy, involving holding the legs up to the hock in a jar of spirit for three minutes to suffocate the mite and should be repeated after one and two weeks, and certainly for bigger birds a two man job. However it is effective. All birds using the same coop should be done, even those without symptoms. There are various sprays on the market too but having not tried those I don't know how effective they are.

Just to follow on from RH, I am trying to get rid of scaly leg and am getting there slowly. The trick is to treat it as soon as you spot i as it takes a very long time to look better as the leg scales only moult periodically. I used to use vaseline but to be fair, its very difficult to get it really well underneath the scales (I used to apply it rubbing up the leg) enough to smother the mites. Its also really messy and in this weather it would be a horrible melty mess!! Having said that though, if you put it on weekly I think it could work.

I also use surgical spirit dip (thanks for tip RH) and I cannot see any signs of discomfort when doing this. It helps enormously that my daughter holds a mix of layers and corn in front of them when they are being dipped and that keeps them busy filling their bellies.

I have also tried one of the scaly leg sprays and it didn't appear to help our girls although it could have been that I didn't use it for long enough. I think the spray may be useful as a deterrent or for in between leg dips etc as it has cooling soothing properties.

Good Luck, Polo

[jessmorris]

For what its worth and just to throw in my threepence worth - I use Benzyl benzoate which is a white thick liquid you get from the pharmacist (some of them have never heard of it). You use a toothbrush to brush it over and between the scales on the legs. twice, eight days apart. it seems to work quite well. I think horsey people use it for a different kind of mite. On their horses.
Good luck!
JM

[Plot06]

The black one is a Black Rock, depending on the breeder sometimes called a Black Star. Good hybrid, strong good layers usually very friendly. Not sure about the other one.
I would agree with what the others have said about the scaly leg