Are these Royal Palms or mixes?

[robyn1976]

they look like royal palms to me but a little dirty? or are they brown to??

 

[adoptapitbull]

I think they're just dirty and a little wet from the rain. We've had rain every day for about 2 weeks. I'm shocked that none of the animals are sick!

 

[Frosty]

I was thinking maybe 8 weeks... My first thought when I looked at the pictures is that they looked a bit dirty so I wasn't sure on the feather color either. They can still look like palms even if they are a mix. I had a Palm hen with some red on her too, they only tom I had was a Narrigansett. She hatched out a clutch that were mostly Bronze but there was one that looked like a pure Palm. So even if they are a mix, they could end up looking pure.

If they are the same age, they could be a pair judging by the heavier legs on the one with dark spots on the wing feathers. Time will tell...

And I have to agree with Nava, it's a good idea to quarantine new birds for a month or so to make sure you aren't bringing anything into your flock. Especially if you are buying from a swap or an auction. I am not saying that everyone is unscrupulous, but there are people who know that they have something wrong with their flock and sell anything not showing symptoms yet. Better to be safe...

 

[Lagerdogger]

They look like Royal Palms to me. Can someone point out the characteristics that suggest they are not going to grow up looking like Royal Palm? It looks to me like the one with the darker back may be a tom, while the lighter one may be a hen.

 

[Frosty]

My thoughts exactly, Lagerdogger... the one with the darker back is the one with dark spots on the wing feathers. I think the reddish spots may be leading folks to think they are a mix but I think they are just a bit muddy. Though if the one with the ligher back is just younger (I believe the OP said they were mixied age), that could throw things off on the gender guessing?

 

[adoptapitbull]

I understand about the 30 day quarantine period, though this week's weather made it almost impossible. I could keep them segregated in a leaky, flooded basement coop, or just take my chances and let them mingle. All birds were health checked before going to the swap, so I just had to do what I thought was best. So far, so good.

I still can't tell if it's dirt or feather color. It's supposed to finally be done raining here for the next week, so maybe they'll dry out a little more and I'll be able to tell.

As far as temperament goes, they are amazing. They are the first ones in the mad dash to greet me when I get home from work. Second day here and they were eating from my hand and snuggling under my arm when I crouched down to pet them. They ended up falling asleep under the warmth of my fleece. I felt bad for having to move! I wonder if they make Snuggies for Turkeys...

 

[syble]

time will tell really. I hatched 2 from eggs i bought this spring that turned out exactly like yours. they were supposed to be palms, but about a month after what yours look to be at now, 1 stayed the same and the other molted in all kinds of color, have been told he is a sweetgrass tom. the hen is a smutty palm(just meaning that the markings aren't as clean as some of your high end show birds are).

Sorry i can't help more, but you wont know for sure till they grow their next set of feathers.

 

[fatsu]

They look like palms if you can get a head and throat shot I should be able to tell the sex for you.