Guesses?

[DBerryhill]

From the feed store straight run bin that ships in from Ideal. Was a dusky chipmunk type initially. Any ideas?

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[chooks4life]

Would help to know the age. Is that a coral crest or rosecomb? Hard to see from the side but doesn't look like a single comb to me.

Best wishes.

 

[DBerryhill]

I'm not familiar with coral combs so I will have to look that up! My best age estimate is about 5 weeks. The bunch I bought was slightly spread out in age. Here is another pic....not sure if it helps. Thanks for the input!

 

[smarsh]

I am not sure of breed, the legs look rather large for its size, indicating male

 

[chooks4life]

The crest is not well developed enough for a 5-week-old for it to be male.

Leg size is almost always due to genetics more than gender. You'd need to know what breed it is to know if it's relevant here. I breed complete mongrels with dozens of genetic lines mixed together and leg size is identical between males and females. It's only larger when the bird itself is larger than the other gender, i.e. when males are heading into their second year; otherwise they're identical throughout adolescence.

The larger leg size could indicate meat bird genetics, but not gender, or it could indicate one of those few breeds that have thicker legs in the males, because they do exist, but crest and wattle development is always a better indicator and I'm not seeing anything like a male's development in this bird. Because you're not sure about the age we'd have to wait and see but right now I'm thinking it's a pullet.

A 5-week-old male, coral crest or similar, would still be showing a lot more crest. 2-week-old males with that sort of crest show more development. American Silkies seem really retarded development wise though so if it had any genetics like that in its recent ancestry the crest could be non-indicative until a fair while after puberty is reached.

Best wishes.

 

[DBerryhill]

When I bought this chick I bought it with another that looked identical. ( never can just buy ONE! Lol) the other is one I think is a roo. Feathering out slower and stands different.

. I was leaning towards pullet for the one posted and cockerel for the other. The initial chick posted is on the left of this pic. I'm just lost on what kind of chicken they are. I thought I wanted a surprise assortment...now I've realized I don't like the suspense!

 

[chooks4life]

It's good that you don't just get one. Chicks separated from their clutches can remain loners for life. They're generally pretty family-oriented.

I can't see the crests clearly in the pic you posted last, but you're right about the feathering, it is typically male-pattern, and the coloring on the feathers isn't as distinct as the other, which makes it fairly likely it's a male, since they usually have blurred versions of what the females have.

Sorry about the breed, can't help you there, lol, not very experienced with purebreds. Also what we expect from purebreds in Australia is quite different from what Americans expect, quite a few times there's been a whole gulf of discrepancy between what people from either country expect from the same pure breeds.

I recently exchanged a series of confused posts with someone in America stating that 'Australorps are rounded birds' --- but no, they're not. At least, not Aussie ones! Since the breed originated in Australia I'd guessed our standards are/were correct but American standards for Australorps are entirely different --- they look just like Langshans minus the feathered feet. Bizarre and confusing. Our Australorps are more plain-bodied than the rounded and tall birds we expect Langshans to be.

Eh, I prefer mongrels anyway, there's plenty of beautiful purebreds out there but each to their own.

Best wishes with them.

 

[JodyJo]

I too have a couple from a back yard hatchery that I am confused about, they have identical combs as yours do in your pics...I thought they were Australorps, till they started feathering out...now black with while feathering, and odd comb. I love the suspense of not knowing. I am starting all over with a flock of 20...(moved and re-homed my others) I can't guess on yours, sorry, just wanted to chime in and say I am in the same boat...here is a pic of my mystery chicks! Mine are 5 weeks in this pic....I have three like these shown. Not even sure if they are male or female yet! I will tune back in and see how yours develops!!

 

[DBerryhill]

For some reason I missed the alert on this thread updating. This is my bird now:

Best I have found is that she may be a Kraienköppe, perhaps a golden/silver duckwing type. They have walnut combs. How are yours turning out Jodyjo?

 

[chooks4life]

For some reason I missed the alert on this thread updating.
Site glitch I reckon, happens to me all the time.

This is my bird now:

Best I have found is that she may be a Kraienköppe, perhaps a golden/silver duckwing type. They have walnut combs. How are yours turning out Jodyjo?

Definitely looks like a pullet. I'm not a purebred expert, lol, I need to brush up on that, but looks like she should be a handsome hen.

Best wishes.