Buff Orpington white ear lobe - Fungus or poor genetics?

[LikeTurkeys]

You thought you got a B.O.?
But it may be part Leghorn?
I say, I say son. I think you may have got Hornswoggled.

But he's still a good looking bird.

Yes, I would not have got him if I didn't feel so sorry for him. He is very friendly though, which is a plus.

Yes, there has been fowl play. BOs are very fluffy. Definitely is a mix.
[edit] He does have some BO in him, though, (I could be wrong) his shanks are the color that a BO's legs should be.

Yes, but given that he is hatchery stock I am not surprised that he isn't fluffy. I believe many hatchery birds do not have that characteristic (I have two hens from Privett hatchery, one is fluffy the other is not so much).

no thats normal my buff orpington has the same it offspring egg color lob males also have it my buff rooster has it

I don't think so, buff Orpingtons are supposed to have red earlobes to my knowledge. Perhaps yours is also part Leghorn?

Buff Minorca

Interesting, so you think he is not a Buff Orpington at all? I should add that he weighs at 3.5 lbs, which (though he could be stunted).

 

[Pullet Press]

Interesting, so you think he is not a Buff Orpington at all? I should add that he weighs at 3.5 lbs, which (though he could be stunted).

I was reading that the average Buff Minorca male weighs 9lbs when mature, so he could totally be stunted.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I was reading that the average Buff Minorca male weighs 9lbs when mature, so he could totally be stunted.

And a buff Orpington male has a standard weight of 10 lbs, while females are 8 lbs. Standard weights are not really applicable to hatchery birds - you will almost always get smaller by at least a couple pounds.

But yes, I think he is stunted because even for a hatchery bird he should be at least 4-5 pounds. I hope he puts on some weight soon with better care.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Also, what is the more likely? That he has Leghorn in his background or that he is a Buff Minorca? I think Buff Orpingtons are more common as hatchery birds go, so I think there is a larger chance of him being that but not completely pure. Nobody has out ruled the possibility of Favus either, which I was hoping for some insight on.

 

[The Happster]

Yes, I would not have got him if I didn't feel so sorry for him. He is very friendly though, which is a plus.

Yes, but given that he is hatchery stock I am not surprised that he isn't fluffy. I believe many hatchery birds do not have that characteristic (I have two hens from Privett hatchery, one is fluffy the other is not so much).

I don't think so, buff Orpingtons are supposed to have red earlobes to my knowledge. Perhaps yours is also part Leghorn?

Interesting, so you think he is not a Buff Orpington at all? I should add that he weighs at 3.5 lbs, which (though he could be stunted).

I've no idea if the place he was bought from sells mixes.

Orpingtons CAN have some white in their earlobes. A lot of mine do. But it's a flaw.

However, that's not what your boy has. Clearly he's not (pure) BO. There is just too much white there.

He's either a hatchery quality BM or he's a mix.
Buff Minorca definitely springs to mind, but the body shape of Orpington is very different to Minorca. Minorcas are quite skinny with a noticeable tail. Of course, he's lost his, so that doesn't help.
Orps are puffy and round.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

He got taken by a hawk yesterday 20 bucks, gone and I was 'hornswoggled' to boot! I worried about ringworm because his earlobes started flaking and it looked like his comb was getting white too, but in hindsight I think it was just the low humidity that caused it (at times %7 even). I'm bummed out, but I guess now I know. Purchased November 4th, died December 4th. No body, just a few feathers at the sight of the kill. Some of the other chickens were so frightened that they flew up onto the roof, one sprained her leg I think while getting down. She walks with a limp now. That hawk was back for more chicken today, so they are staying in for some time.

 

[The Happster]

I'm so sorry.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I'm so sorry.

Thanks. And thanks for all your your help too, I really learned from it.