Hmm, mess up at the store? Is this a Welsummer?

[Bocktobery 10]

Hello all,

I'm hoping that someone here can help me out.

I got some chicks at the local feed store about three weeks ago. I picked up two that were in the Speckled Sussex bin, but I'm thinking there has been a mix up. I've been concerned because the one Speckled Sussex is clearly starting to show its 'speckled-ness', while the other is not. The one has pink legs, while the other has yellow legs. I suspect that someone put a chick back into the wrong bin maybe?

I've been looking around at pictures, and from what I see, it seems that the one 'Speckled Sussex' might actually be a Welsummer. What do you think? They were selling Welsummers there too, though the bin was a few bins down from the one holding the Speckled Sussex. Here is a pic of the chick in question:




close up of her face (sorry for the dark picture)





Here is the Speckled Sussex- (by the way, do you think its a rooster? Its about 3 1/2 weeks.)








I would think the yellow legs is a dead give-away that these two are not the same breed. I'm worried this Speckled Sussex is a male. The legs look a bit thick to me. What do you think.


Thanks for any replies!

 

[TheCrazyChick]

Whatever he/she is, is a beautiful bird. Gorgeous!

 

[Chickenfan4life]

I would say Welsummer: no speckled sussex I've ever seen looked like that. She's pretty!

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Thanks Chickenfan4life and Crazychick. I guess I just want to know if the Speckled Sussex is a female or male. I can't have another rooster here. I already have two and its hard enough to give them each what they need. I was really hoping to have a Speckled Sussex hen. I wanted a Welsummer too, so if the chick in question is, then I feel happy about the mix up. I just hope that the SS on the bottom is a female. Anyone willing to take a guess?

 

[erinangele]

I think your right about the first one being a Welsummer. I have a Wellie chick right now who looks very similar. I also have a SS hen, and she looked like yours when she was a chick so i'm voting SS pullet

 

[Kev]

it's so tall and skinny I would wonder it's a brown leghorn instead of welsumer. It is definitely a female, though so if you keep her, the eggs will let you know. brown- welsumer, white- brown leghorn.

 

[6littlechicks]

I think I read that leghorn have yellow legs and wellies have white. anyone know if this is true?

 

[missnu01]

I think I read that leghorn have yellow legs and wellies have white. anyone know if this is true?

Leghorns have yellow legs...Looks like welsummers do too.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Thanks everyone.

I just looked up Brown Leghorns... It seems like my gal in question may be one. The yellow legs seem to give it away. I can't find pics of Welsummers with yellow legs- although I've seen in some pictures on the web there are some that have more yellowish-white legs. This gal's legs are like, Ronald MacDonald yellow. They were not so when she was younger. The color more closely resembled the SS's leg's color. I'm not really happy about the mix up just because I have limited room and I didn't want another white egg layer, but I can say that the Brown Leghorns are pretty. Anyway, I like this little one already.... she has got quite some gusto- She's my little escape artist. I can't turn my back on her for a moment as she wants to go explore.

Do the hatcheries throw in extras that look like the chicks ordered just to get by on orders sometimes?

Still hoping that the SS is a pullet. I'm nervous about the white feathers on the chest, thick legs and the comb and waddle already developing. I guess that is usual for the breed from what I've read- well, that is all but the thick legs.

 

[debid]

I believe you have a brown Leghorn. My Welsummers have some yellow legs but not quite so bright yellow. They also were mistaken for young roosters by some because they were so blocky-big and had such large feet that they'd trip themselves. Yours looks dainty in comparison.

As far as the SS, don't listen to the white chest thing. That might be true for breeder lines but hatchery SS often are excessively white in the face and chest. My girl was. She was also thick and short in the leg. Much too early to tell.