I could use help identifying this boy's breed.

[PhantomSlayer]

I got 3 roosters from a friend who got them free from a farm. I've narrowed it down and I'm stuck between Jersey Giant or Black Australorp. This guy is big. I've looked up everything I can but his personality and size screams Jersey Giant to me and a friend because he looks bigger than all the other roosters I have but his feet are not yellow looking to me. The other two I got I believe are buff orpington and rhode island red? I believe their just under or around a year old.

He's pretty chill and less dominant compared to the other 3 roosters (The two he came with and my EE boy)

It's confusing. He's a pretty gentle and I'm considering letting his stay with the breeding flock instead of the rooster flock come spring.

 

[redinator]

I have a Black Jersey Giant I'll get some pictures of him tomorrow for comparison. He's the biggest boy in my yard, but the size difference didn't really start to show until he reached about 6 months and started to fill out.

He's also my calmest male, never starts a fight, but doesn't back down if confronted by the other two males.

 

[JedJackson]

He does appear to have white skin rather than yellow. My guess is black Orpington. But he could also be a Jersey Giant mix. He seems too large for an Australorp.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

He does appear to have white skin rather than yellow. My guess is black Orpington. But he could also be a Jersey Giant mix. He seems too large for an Australorp.

Thats my problem he seems to large for a australorp because i have 4 black australorp hens. But everything is pointing toward australorp with the feather shine and the lack of yellow feet lol. I don't think hes a orpington. I have 2 buff orpington hens and the buff orpington rooster thats in the same picture.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

I have a Black Jersey Giant I'll get some pictures of him tomorrow for comparison. He's the biggest boy in my yard, but the size difference didn't really start to show until he reached about 6 months and started to fill out.

He's also my calmest male, never starts a fight, but doesn't back down if confronted by the other two males.

I've never had a Jersey Giant. I have black australorp hens and buff orpingtons (2 hens and a rooster for now) to compare. I'm definately gonna keep this boy in my breeding flock if he remains this calm. Our main rooster Casanova is an pretty awesome EE so maybe he'll learn from him to be a good rooster. Honestly whether the breed if he's a good boy he can stay. Casanova has been very accepting of all the extra roosters/cockerels. Although I'm sure hes tired of the RIR boy already. But I am to but the weather is preventing me from finishing the rooster pen x.x

 

[Whittni]

Hatchery Black Jersey Giants can have the wrong feet. Australorp males are also big with great personalities. I'd just let him finish growing out and see if he's whopper enough to be a Jersey Giant. You are correct on the other two boy breeds, RIR and Buff Orpington.

 

[JedJackson]

Thats my problem he seems to large for a australorp because i have 4 black australorp hens. But everything is pointing toward australorp with the feather shine and the lack of yellow feet lol. I don't think hes a orpington. I have 2 buff orpington hens and the buff orpington rooster thats in the same picture.

From my experience, hatchery black Orpingtons can be considerably larger than buff Orpington. These two varieties are not genetically related, and buff Orpingtons have been been bred more extensively to be egg production chickens rather than meat birds. Meaning they are small than standard breed buff Orps.

But yes, it is a case of wait and see. Unfortunately, all three of these breeds have dark eyes, so yellow skin is the only real way to tell Jerseys from Orpingtons or Australorps.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

Hatchery Black Jersey Giants can have the wrong feet. Australorp males are also big with great personalities. I'd just let him finish growing out and see if he's whopper enough to be a Jersey Giant. You are correct on the other two boy breeds, RIR and Buff Orpington.

I got a little brave the other day and snatched up my boy Casanova and I can definately say the black boy is heavier than him lol. I've been considering names for him in the mean time.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

From my experience, hatchery black Orpingtons can be considerably larger than buff Orpington. These two varieties are not genetically related, and buff Orpingtons have been been bred more extensively to be egg production chickens rather than meat birds. Meaning they are small than standard breed buff Orps.

But yes, it is a case of wait and see. Unfortunately, all three of these breeds have dark eyes, so yellow skin is the only real way to tell Jerseys from Orpingtons or Australorps.

Right it sucks that their so difficult to tell because they look the same. I was watching the buff orpington boy an the RIR boy crowing back and forth and I just stood there and there the big boy was next to them and not a single attempt to crow from him. The crowing wars is pretty interesting to watch. I wish i could get a picture of all 4 roosters next to each other to show just how big the boy is but Casanova tends to be near his girls.