I got 2 Light Brahmas from Tractor Supply...but they don't look like the same breed...

[Peggysaurus]

Hey everyone,

Almost two weeks ago, we got five chicks. Three were Isa Browns and two were supposed to be Light Brahmas. However, as they are getting older I've been noticing a significant difference between the two Light Brahma chicks. Chick #1 (Light Brahma chicks are going to be chick #1 and chick #2) is definitely a Light Brahma. She was all white the first couple of days we got her, and now she is getting white feathers with black accents. She also has feathers on her feet. Chick #2, however, looks nothing like chick #1. When she was a couple of days old, her fluff was definitely more tan than white. As she is getting older, she is developing tan feathers. Also, her tail feathers are significantly bigger than the other chick's tail feathers (the others haven't even developed any tail feathers yet). I am very confused. They are sex-link chicks, so I know that the males are darker than the females, so could there have been a mix-up? Could the guy have accidentally grabbed a male instead of a female? Is she an entirely different breed? I think it's a little too early to tell if it's a boy or a girl, but if anyone has any idea's about what this chick could be, all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Chick #1

Chick #2

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Chick 2 is a Buff Orpington.

 

[MamaBelle5]

I don't know anything about the breed, but if chick #2 was a Brahma, wouldn't she also have feathers on her feet? Or do the males develop those later?

 

[Peggysaurus]

Chick 2 is a Buff Orpington.

Hmmm...so it probably was a mix-up. Do you have any ideas on gender? Do Buff Orpington chicks usually have long tail feathers at this age?

 

[Peggysaurus]

I don't know anything about the breed, but if chick #2 was a Brahma, wouldn't she also have feathers on her feet? Or do the males develop those later?

That's exactly what I thought. I looked up some pictures, and it seems like males are also supposed to have them at this age.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Hmmm...so it probably was a mix-up. Do you have any ideas on gender? Do Buff Orpington chicks usually have long tail feathers at this age?

Too early for gender, though I believe pullets typically feather faster than males. Orpingtons mature pretty fast, so you may get an idea of gender as early as 4 weeks.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I've heard of buff brahmas being sexlinked, but I've never heard of light brahmas being sexed by down colour. I could have just missed that fact somewhere along the way...though they're one of my favorites and I've don some extensive reading up on them in the Hope's I'd find a few somewhere along the way to add to my flock. In any case those two have to be different breeds. Brahmas in general are a feather footed breed. I've seen pictures of hatchery stock with lighter feathering on the feet, but I don't recall ever seeing one without foot feathering. I think they're a little too young to sex though.

 

[Folly's place]

Did the store have Orphingtons? Some mixup, common at feed stores. And fast feathering is a genetic trait that must be bred for specifically, so isn't relevant with these chicks. In another month sexing them will be easier, not now.
Mary

 

[JedJackson]

Chick 2 is a Buff Orpington.

Bingo.

 

[Peggysaurus]

No. I remember looking at the different bins with chicks in them. They had about five bins, and none of them had Orpingtons in them. Maybe it was a mix-up at the hatchery before they were brought to Tractor Supply?