Just wanted other's speculation on the breed of this "mystery " chick.

[Bshemyshua]

Hello
I'm just looking for some input. I ordered 2 buff orpington and 3 barred rock chicks with a hatch date of July 16, 2025. I received an additional mystery chick from the hatchery as a bonus which was a pleasant surprise.
At 6 weeks old I am still unsure about breed. It appears to be the darkest of the barred rocks and didn't have a big white splotch on the top of it's head like the other barred rocks. Just a light dusting of white on its head. As far as I can tell all the chicks are hens (which is what I ordered). I just can't pin down the breed. They're 6 weeks old now and I took these pics this morning. Any ideas?

 

[SnackMeat]

Looks like my Dominique possibly (even with mine being a likely Cockerel, he is quite dark compared to my barred Hollands.) Might check breed earlobes and feet colors.

However, no big spot means likely pullet so that's good.

If she is kind of stumpy legged, it could also be a mottled Java but I don't see most hatcheries sending you that (I could be wrong.)

 

[JedJackson]

They could all be barred rock females. There is variation in the barring, so they won't all look exactly alike.

The other common barred breed is cuckoo Marans. To tell the difference, you have to catch the birds and look at the undersides of the feet. With rocks, the skin should have a yellow tint in that area. With Marans, the skin should not but should instead be white or pinkish white.

These are single combed birds, and for that reason I do not think any of them is a dominique. Those have rose combs.

 

[Beau plus penny]

Looks like my Dominique possibly (even with mine being a likely Cockerel, he is quite dark compared to my barred Hollands.) Might check breed earlobes and feet colors.

However, no big spot means likely pullet so that's good.

If she is kind of stumpy legged, it could also be a mottled Java but I don't see most hatcheries sending you that (I could be wrong.)

couldnt be it has a straight comb it looks to me like a cuckoo maran

 

[bravecoconut]

She looks a lot like my Olive Egger. Most EEs are mixed breeds and different mixed breeds just to produce a certain color egg. There are plenty of olive eggers out there that look completely different. That being said, the other girl with her is a Steele Egger that is bred from the same base stock to produce like-looking chickens with blue/green eggs. I'm curious to see what color eggs you get from her. She could just be a darker version barred rock too....

 

[Bshemyshua]

I appreciate these answers. It does give me some ideas to keep in mind for when they start laying. Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

 

[Appalachickens]

My Easter Egger and my barred rock look nearly identical (and like yours) except for the small crest on the EE's head.

 

[ella2025]

I strongly believe it is a cuckoo maran but if you have more pictures of only that bird it would help more.

 

[Bshemyshua]

I strongly believe it is a cuckoo maran but if you have more pictures of only that bird it would help more.

Let me get a few more.

 

[Bshemyshua]

I strongly believe it is a cuckoo maran but if you have more pictures of only that bird it would help more.

Here's a few of just the mystery chick