Australorp? Giant Jersey or? ..

[Chickydeelady]

Hi there. Had two sexed 16 week old pullets and both ended up cockerels (now about 28 weeks). The breeder took them back to attempt rehoming and swapped with a couple of Sussex but thinks the light grey is sick because of the yellow tones (beak and legs) - whereas it's always been like that for me with this one.
The other one with darker collar has the grey legs/pink etc. they were supposed to be splash australorp but then she said today they are probably just blue wash australorp. My question is whether the lighter colour one could have been bred from more of a mongrel rooster (no offensive intended) with possible Jersey Giant and the pigmentation is only coming up in one of them.
My question is just to help out either with re-homing or ethical cull as they mentioned if it's sick that they won't do either and that's just a waste of a bird. Cheers

 

[Chickydeelady]

PS I would have kept both as thought they are magnificent but whilst in tiny rural town it's technically township zone and Mrs Mangel 800m up the road would have a field day - already sends local laws around for my managed maremma every month.

 

[JedJackson]

Yes, I think the lighter one is definitely a mixed breed since it has yellow skin and Australorps should have white skin. It doesn't look sick to me in any way. Perfectly healthy from what I can see. So the conclusion is that either the breeder has mixed breed stock and is unaware of it, or perhaps a stealthy rooster snuck into the pen and that's how this guy ended up being mixed.

 

[Chickydeelady]

Yes, I think the lighter one is definitely a mixed breed since it has yellow skin and Australorps should have white skin. It doesn't look sick to me in any way. Perfectly healthy from what I can see. So the conclusion is that either the breeder has mixed breed stock and is unaware of it, or perhaps a stealthy rooster snuck into the pen and that's how this guy ended up being mixed.

Thanks so much. He has seemed the picture of perfect health so I was surprised at the suggestion - then looked through photos and realised the yellow was prominent. I think it might be the first (the mixed breed stock). I'm guessing it will therefore be quite hard to re-home them but I'm going to pop through the feedback

 

[Chickydeelady]

Looks like we have historical Rhode islands in the heritage that have snuck through - thank you. Helped the breeder and myself. At least I know as first time chicken owner that I haven't done something horribly wrong.

Yes, I think the lighter one is definitely a mixed breed since it has yellow skin and Australorps should have white skin. It doesn't look sick to me in any way. Perfectly healthy from what I can see. So the conclusion is that either the breeder has mixed breed stock and is unaware of it, or perhaps a stealthy rooster snuck into the pen and that's how this guy ended up being mixed.