2 Part Sussex and a ???

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi all, I have questions about three of my birds and I'm hoping you can help. First, I'm reasonably certain two of these 12-week old EE's are cockerels, but I'm curious as to their breeding. Do you think there is some Sussex in there somewhere, or is it possible to tell? (I am speaking of the mostly white one with black points and the mottled brown/white one). Let's call them Ptarmigan and Tango respectively.

I tried to get both pics of the mostly white bird to appear together but I couldn't figure out how to do that, sorry.

Ptarmigan does not have a really significant comb, wattles or saddle feathers in my opinion, but he does seem to be developing pointy tail feathers and hackles, and DH says he saw and heard it try to crow.

Tango has dark splotches that look almost black but in reality are a dark chocolate color. On Tango I believe I see comb development, wattles, saddle feathers and more significant tail feathers.

There is no doubt the third bird - the most colorful one (these pics seem to be appearing in totally random order!) is a cockerel. He crows! Lookit them tail feathers! But ... WHAT

is he? I think he is beautiful and I hate to send him to freezer camp. Yet... do I really need three roosters for just under 30 hens? Please, y'all... help me decide if he's a keeper! I definitely want to keep my oldest roo, Mike, a Barred Rock; and I had planned to keep his year-old son, whose mother is an EE...

Thanks all for sharing your knowledge and expertise, I certainly do appreciate it!
ETA: call the MOST COLORFUL ONE Rococo.

Ptarmigan:

Tango:

Tango:

Ptarmigan:

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I apologize that the bird I mention LAST appears FIRST in the photos.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Okay, no responses yet, trying again... all 3 of these are EEs.

1. The multi-colored bird that appears first in my OP is definitely a cockerel, but I am wondering what he might be, breed-wise.

2. The mostly white one appears to me to be a Sussex cross cockerel, is that right?

3. The mottled chocolate one I think is a cockerel; can anyone identify his breed?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Yes, all three are cockerels.
No, their breeding is completely unknown. If they're hatchery birds, they've been breed from other EEs, for generations. They probably drop some Ameraucana in to refresh the blue egg gene, but otherwise... EE all the way.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks

Yes, all three are cockerels.
No, their breeding is completely unknown. If they're hatchery birds, they've been breed from other EEs, for generations. They probably drop some Ameraucana in to refresh the blue egg gene, but otherwise... EE all the way.

Thanks! Appreciate it. Yes, I got these from Meyer.

 

[cstephens1987]

Yes, all three are cockerels.
No, their breeding is completely unknown. If they're hatchery birds, they've been breed from other EEs, for generations. They probably drop some Ameraucana in to refresh the blue egg gene, but otherwise... EE all the way.

X2