It took some research on Internet but eventually we managed to identify what the breed of our chickens. It turned out that in addition to being from Barcelona, they were in fact “black rocks” – a hybrid cross between the Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock which would explain why they have slightly reddish chests.

This picture was taken on the day they arrived. Exactly two months later, their combs are a bright red and their wattles (the hanging beard beneath their mouth) are larger and redder.

Luckily for us, it turns out that the black rock is a fairly sturdy, productive bird – able to resist cold winter temperatures and likely to lay between 230-280 eggs a year.