Can you help figure out the breed?

[S5apiotrowski]

I just picked up a couple hens. I am told the white hen is a Brahma-Americauna cross. The black hen also appears to be a cross of some sort. It has a dark pea comb, black skin, and 5 toes on the feet. We don't know the age of the hen, but it is significantly smaller than the white hen and our other two hens (an australorp and an easter-egger).

Given the 5 toes and dark color, we believe she is part silkie (assuming the silkie feathers are a recessive trait). Her face appears somewhat like a Sumatra - but her temperament is very docile, the bottoms of her feet are black, and her tail is not very long. At first glance (from a distance), we thought she looked like our australorp - but her comb and feet are very different.

Any ideas on what this may be or suggestions on what to look for?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

WELCOME TO BYC!!

Australorp?

 

[donrae]

I think your white bird is a light Brahma cockerel

. A better, closer pic would help be sure.

That little hen may have some silkie a ways back. Silkied feathers are recessive, so an F1 cross looses those. But, that first cross usually still has feathered legs, a different comb, a beard and crest. I could see maybe some Sumatra heritage there, but agree there's something else I can't put my finger on.

 

[S5apiotrowski]

The white bird is quite large, but I think its a hen - there are no spurs and overall looks like and sounds like the other hens. We were guessing she'll lay a green egg some day - if she is what we were told...

 

[S5apiotrowski]

Dag nabbit - the white one does look like a cockerel

... I guess I need a few more hens then

 

[donrae]

It is a cockerel, probably not pure Brahma with that straight comb, but I don't see any Ameraucana or EE in that bird, either. Not that it matters since he won't be laying eggs anyway. Just a beware of that seller, I guess.

 

[S5apiotrowski]

Well, this will be our first male - and from what I've read, the Brahma should be pretty docile, so not a bad one to have, I guess. We have a nice set-up for the chickens to free-range, so perhaps it will be good to have the male around (when he matures!). I just don't think we have enough hens to keep a rooster happy... but I don't want too big of a flock either...