Grey Chick ! From buff sussex parents ?

[Faraz1]

So I have a pair of buff sussex chickens that i hatched earlier this year from hatching eggs. The hen started laying last month and I have now incubated the first batch of her eggs. In total I have incubated 8 eggs. They are still hatching, however i am surprised to see the first chick that has hatched is grey in colour ! In comparison the second chick that has hatched is a pale yellow, the same as its parents.

Does anyone know what has caused this change in colour and what kind of 'buff sussex' or ' grey sussex' chicken i may end up with ? Pics are attached.

 

[Faraz1]

Some more differences with the other chick that has hatched. I will upload more information and pictures of the other chicks as they hatch.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Do you have any other roosters besides Buff Sussex? Need to rule this out.

Also can you get some better pictures in better lighting?

 

[Faraz1]

Do you have any other roosters besides Buff Sussex? Need to rule this out.

Also can you get some better pictures in better lighting?

I have 2 Rhode Island Red roosters in the flock but they are quite young and would have been 13 weeks old, 3 weeks ago when I collected these eggs. Plus I have not seen them come near this hen ever. They mostly keep to themselves and the main rooster (pictured In the first post) keeps them in check.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The chick looks similar to some Buff partridge chicks I've hatched through the years.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have 2 Rhode Island Red roosters in the flock but they are quite young and would have been 13 weeks old, 3 weeks ago when I collected these eggs. Plus I have not seen them come near this hen ever. They mostly keep to themselves and the main rooster (pictured In the first post) keeps them in check.

Okay, but I wouldn't completely rule out the RIRs as a possibility. I've had young cockerels mate with hens, at least attempted. But the color doesn't fit if it were a RIR.

 

[Faraz1]

Isn't 13 weeks a bit too early for that ?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Isn't 13 weeks a bit too early for that ?

I've had a 6 week old chick mount a hatch mate several years ago.

 

[nicalandia]

This chick looks like a buff columbian chick

But Buff Sussex are supposed to be Wheaten based(eWh/eWh) which are yellow in color



Here are what buff brahma chicks look, they look like that due to them being eb/eb based and Columbian restricted.

Your parent breeders are likely eWh/eb, the chick will turn to a nice buff columbian type just like the others.

 

[MysteryChicken]

This chick looks like a buff columbian chick

View attachment 2931733

But Buff Sussex are supposed to be Wheaten based(eWh/eWh) which are yellow in color



Here are what buff brahma chicks look

View attachment 2931735

There are similarities.

Brahmas are Partridge X Columbian. What causes the grey in Brahma chick down?

I understand the coloration of down varies abit depending on genetics.

Buff Columbian chick from my Giant Silkie Project. The brown chick.

Same bird.