A Riddle for Ya'll--What is Doofus??

Ok, I have this mutt chicken, Daddy was a RIR, and that is all I know. From the start, this chick was different. Turned out to be blind in one eye and acted weird. Named it Doofus. Doofus always hid in the far corner, didn't run for food or treats, she/he/it?? was just a DOOFUS! Doofus is about 3 months now and is a beautiful blue with red tones. Now here is the problem. It was apparent quickly which ones were roosters and last week they went on vacation to freezer camp. But not Doofus. Doofus has a slick spot where a comb should be. It is just starting to get a little shape to it, but is still smooth.Doofus is taller than the other pullets, stalks around like a crane, cocks her/his head to one side to see better out of that one eye. Doofus hides in the little A-frame coop I built for the little pullet's shelter. If I were to ascribe human emotions to a chicken, I would say that Doofus has no self confidence. This week, I took down the board that seperated the coop from the run and let the 8 big girls mix with the 12 pullets. Doofus has become the target for the big girls to pick on. The top hen jumped on Doofus yesterday and Doofus stuck her/his/it's head in a hole in a cinder block while the pecking continued. I had to rescue Doofus. I am getting attached to Doofus. Anybody remember the Saturday Night Live character a few years back named Pat? Nobody ever knew if Pat was male or female. Doofus is like that. Ya'll help me out here. Isn't Doofus pretty?



This is a close up of Doofus comb.



The top of Doofus head.



And poor ol' Doofus blind eye.

Baymule said:

Ok, I have this mutt chicken, Daddy was a RIR, and that is all I know. From the start, this chick was different. Turned out to be blind in one eye and acted weird. Named it Doofus. Doofus always hid in the far corner, didn't run for food or treats, she/he/it?? was just a DOOFUS! Doofus is about 3 months now and is a beautiful blue with red tones. Now here is the problem. It was apparent quickly which ones were roosters and last week they went on vacation to freezer camp. But not Doofus. Doofus has a slick spot where a comb should be. It is just starting to get a little shape to it, but is still smooth.Doofus is taller than the other pullets, stalks around like a crane, cocks her/his head to one side to see better out of that one eye. Doofus hides in the little A-frame coop I built for the little pullet's shelter. If I were to ascribe human emotions to a chicken, I would say that Doofus has no self confidence. This week, I took down the board that seperated the coop from the run and let the 8 big girls mix with the 12 pullets. Doofus has become the target for the big girls to pick on. The top hen jumped on Doofus yesterday and Doofus stuck her/his/it's head in a hole in a cinder block while the pecking continued. I had to rescue Doofus. I am getting attached to Doofus. Anybody remember the Saturday Night Live character a few years back named Pat? Nobody ever knew if Pat was male or female. Doofus is like that. Ya'll help me out here. Isn't Doofus pretty? This is a close up of Doofus comb. The top of Doofus head. And poor ol' Doofus blind eye.

Click to expand...

Lovely story and what a beauty! I would say no question it's a she. Wild comb though I agree! As for breed? ? Really haven't a clue there. I'm not sure what to suggest on keeping her from getting picked on, but if you don't plan to keep her separated then it's best to keep her with the others or it will get worse then the pullets she's been with will join the older girls to gang up on her too.

That's a rose comb. No clue what the mix was.

I also have some SLW, which have rose combs. Doofus' comb was slick, like a bald spot. It has only recently gotten a little puffy. It is still very flat and weird looking. ellymayRans, thanks and I certainly hope you are right about Doofus being a pullet! debid, is a rose comb always so flat and when does it look like a rooster/pullet? I really thank ya'll for your response, I am getting attached to this silly bird and don't want Doofus to turn out to be a rooster! Breed? A beauty in my heart!

Doofus is a rooster. Just slower to mature, but that color is all boy. Sorry.

Yeah, just have to wait it out I guess. With it being a mixed breed not sure how color alone could make that determination. I was comparing there are no signs of saddle feathering and at 3 months if you aren't getting a crow out of it, I would bet pullet.

AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!! Doofus is still a SNL "Pat" I'll be keeping my ears tuned for a crow. Hope not!

What donrae meant about the color giving it away as a boy is all that very bright red on Doofus' chest and wing bows, and I have to agree. That's a dead giveaway for a cockerel. My blue laced red Wyandotte boys would show the very same coloring, and the girls did not. Their red was more dull. Its possible its a girl, because there's always those birds that fool us, but....that bright red screams boys to me.
It would help if we knew how old Doofus is. And as far as the comb, I would bet its momma was a SLW. The was I understand comb genetics (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the rose comb is dominant. Mix a chicken with a single comb and one with a rose comb and the rose will be the one to express itself.

Edited to add- sorry just saw you said its 3 months old. I think boy. If mom was a SLW, which I'm betting it was, they're a slow maturing breed. My boys looked just like your Doofus at 3 months as far as comb development (except they had the typical Wyandotte plumage of course).

Rose combs can have a smooth or bumpy appearance, spike or no spike. That's all within the range of normal. My Dominique had a rather smooth rose comb with a spike so it doesn't look weird to me other than the black tint on part of it. They don't get huge on either gender so the coloration of the feathers is more important as a guideline.

howfunkyisurchicken said:

What donrae meant about the color giving it away as a boy is all that very bright red on Doofus' chest and wing bows, and I have to agree. That's a dead giveaway for a cockerel. My blue laced red Wyandotte boys would show the very same coloring, and the girls did not. Their red was more dull. Its possible its a girl, because there's always those birds that fool us, but....that bright red screams boys to me.
It would help if we knew how old Doofus is. And as far as the comb, I would bet its momma was a SLW. The was I understand comb genetics (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the rose comb is dominant. Mix a chicken with a single comb and one with a rose comb and the rose will be the one to express itself.

Edited to add- sorry just saw you said its 3 months old. I think boy. If mom was a SLW, which I'm betting it was, they're a slow maturing breed. My boys looked just like your Doofus at 3 months as far as comb development (except they had the typical Wyandotte plumage of course).

Click to expand...

To answer your inquiry on rose comb vs single comb dominant..I have 2 silkie/BCM mixes, both roos, one has a single comb and the other a rose comb (father was BCM)