black orpington + black orpingtons = huh ? pictures

[Sierra pachie bars]

I took apart my orphington pens. So these eggs I hatched to hatch. Not sure if i will keep this or not at this point. Was just so shocked to see it hatch out. I was thinking to myself this is not the color I expected. I have been working on my other breeding sets , and not really thinking of working on orpingtons. Guess time will tell.

 

[chickenzoo]

you should have kept that rooster......

 

[tadkerson]

The leg color is a good indicator that the bird is mottled. I would expect the back to be an extensive light gray color if the bird was lavender/extended black or lavender/birchen.

It appears to have wheaten chick down, so wheaten is a possibility ( but highly unlikely).

Many white orpingtons that are recessive white show some gray in the down- this could be a recessive white chick that does not show the gray color.

Please, post some pics after the bird puts on the juvenile feathers or as an adult- this evidence should solve the mystery.


Tim