Brown Leghorn ? with dark-colored (slate) legs?

[THE Curmudgeon]

I have a chick which appears to be a Brown Leghorn (chipmunk look when younger).
This chick is now 3 weeks old.

But, as I understand, Brown Leghorns have yellow legs. THIS chick has darkish legs...(greenish-black)...which I would call "slate-colored".

What breed MIGHT it be ?

Sorry I can't presently POST a PICTURE because my camera/software isn't working.

In all respects, other than the leg color, this chick appears to be a Brown Leghorn.

THANKS for any opinions !

- THE Curmudgeon -

 

[donrae]

Lots of breeds are chipmonk looking as babies. Brown leghorns, welsummers and easter eggers can be very difficult to tell apart. With the dark legs, easter egger would be a guess. Does it have a beard or muffs?

 

[THE Curmudgeon]

Lots of breeds are chipmonk looking as babies. Brown leghorns, welsummers and easter eggers can be very difficult to tell apart. With the dark legs, easter egger would be a guess. Does it have a beard or muffs?

NO beard or muffs apparent at this point.

The coloring, etc. is entirely consistent with a Brown Leghorn pullet chick.....EXCEPT for the color of the legs.

- THE Curmudgeon -

 

[THE Curmudgeon]

I found a picture here at BYC that LOOKS LIKE my chick.

It was found in "Easter-Eggers".....but the Picture URL says it is a "Light Brahma".

Is "Light Brahma" a possibility ?

Here is the picture that I found:



- THE Curmudgeon -

 

[CourtneyMB]

No, that is definitely not a light brahma. Light brahmas are white with black striped neck and tail, plus they have feathered feet.

That right there is a genuine easter egger.

 

[THE Curmudgeon]

CourtneyMB,

THANKS for the reply !

Just exactly "what" IS a "genuine Easter-Egger" ?

It is MY IMPRESSION that an "Easter-Egger" is just an "American Half-Breed Chicken" sorta.
I don't think that they are actually "classified" as a BREED...are they?

By the way... My ancestors on my father's side all came from the area about 40 miles south of your location ( Polk County, NC near Columbus...mostly ).

THE Curmudgeon

 

[Pele]

CourtneyMB,

THANKS for the reply !

Just exactly "what" IS a "genuine Easter-Egger" ?

It is MY IMPRESSION that an "Easter-Egger" is just an "American Half-Breed Chicken" sorta.
I don't think that they are actually "classified" as a BREED...are they?

By the way... My ancestors on my father's side all came from the area about 40 miles south of your location ( Polk County, NC near Columbus...mostly ).

THE Curmudgeon

Your impression is correct. Easter Eggers are not a breed, and therefore have no standard of perfection to be held to. That's why your bird can still be one, despite not having a beard and muff. They tend to have a certain collection of features, but there's no EE police out there with a ruler, so their features are all over the map.

To me, the 'perfect' EE has all the following features: Muff and beard, lays blue/green eggs, has slate/willow legs, and has a pea comb. Color can be anything and everything, excluding fuschia

 

[THE Curmudgeon]

Your impression is correct. Easter Eggers are not a breed, and therefore have no standard of perfection to be held to. That's why your bird can still be one, despite not having a beard and muff. They tend to have a certain collection of features, but there's no EE police out there with a ruler, so their features are all over the map.

To me, the 'perfect' EE has all the following features: Muff and beard, lays blue/green eggs, has slate/willow legs, and has a pea comb. Color can be anything and everything, excluding fuschia

THANKS for your post, Pele !

I agree that "Easter-Eggers" SHOULD lay Blue, Green, and perhaps Spanish-Olive colored eggs.....perhaps even PINK eggs.
But the "definition" of "Easter-Eggers" realistically is NOT clear...at all ( for the reason you mentioned....no "Standard of Perfection" ).
So, it seems an "Easter-Egger" can lay ANY Color egg....including Brown and White or "Chocolate" Brown....or "speckeled". No?

SO....I will continue to view "Easter-Eggers" as ANY "cross-breed" chicken that lays "colored eggs".....which is really NOT a "Good Definition"....BUT...it's the BEST definition that I can recognise, in the Current "State-of-Affairs".

By-the-way, I'm a BIG FAN of the "Boise State Broncos" College Football team !!!
( also the "Denver Broncos" ) I think the "Denver Broncos" should have chosen Kellen Moore as a rookie to learn from Peyton Manning ( their NEW Quartering-Back ) instead of the fella they chose. Kellen Moore has the "potential" to be another Joe Montana. I hope Kellen Moore does WELL in Detroit. He is a FINE Quarterback !

Are you also a Boise State fan?

THANKS again for YOUR opinion,
THE Curmudgeon

 

[Pele]

Haha, no I'm not a football fan, but my fiance is. He has declared himself a loyal alumni of U of I, but even he admits that Boise State is better. He agrees with your assessment of Kellen Moore. We're all scratching our heads over why he was passed over in the draft.

Even though I'm not a fan, I have to admit that we put on a really good show. Quite a few nail-biters in these past few seasons!

Oh, and just so I don't get chased with a moderator stick and bring it back to chickens, I would say that your bird is what is referred to as Gold Duckwing coloration.

 

[THE Curmudgeon]

Kellen Moore was apparently passed-over because he is barely 6 feet tall and is not a scrambler. But Joe Montana AND Dan Marino were not scramblers either....and were amongst THE BEST EVER in the NFL. Peyton Manning is no scrambler either!

I had a "duckwing" Half-Breed "Golden Comet" Rooster who was GREAT ...and a beautiful bird.... a coon got him FIRST as he was defending his hens.

I think THIS CHICK (probably an EE pullet) will likely resemble a "Brown Leghorn".
But ONLY "time-will-tell" ???

THANKS for the enjoyable visit !

THE Curmudgeon