McMurray mystery chick.... ???

[Sazbaby]

We ordered Red Stars, Black Australorps, and Blue silkies. We received an extra blue silkie and our "Free rare exotic chick." Don't know what to think of it- it's bantam sized, like the silkies, and looks a lot like my Americauna chicks in the past as far as coloring. It has feathers on the two outside toes and only has 4 toes. The weird thing is that it is so far behind in feather growth- everyone else (all 1 week old today) has wing feathers extending back to the hip, and this one still looks like a newborn chick! If I pull her wings out, she does have a couple of tiny feathers, but nothing near what the others are sporting. Any ideas on what she will be? (hopefully a "she" but we will see....)

 

[Sazbaby]

After looking at all the feather footed bantams on their website, I'm thinking Dark Brahma Bantam?? Agree? Disagree??

 

[FarmCoe]

Quote:
Agreed

 

[colebarnhart]

Quote:
Agree!!!! You'll be able to tell if it's M or F after a few months because the freather patterns are very different.

 

[Sazbaby]

That's cool- I'll be anxiously awaiting the feathers! Just seems weird that they are so much slower to grow than the feathers on all my other chicks. And the few that are under the fluff actually look sort of tan with black splotches, might have to go google the breed and see, the McMurray site only had a picture of the male I think.

 

[hcppam]

how fun.

 

[Kazzandra]

http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld006.htm

Why does no one seem to do this? Sure, it's only 80 percent accurate, but that's a heck of a lot better than waiting for weeks to know!

 

[spiritdance]

My understanding is feather sexing only works with certain breeds.

 

[PtldChick]

My guess is roo, because McMurray almost never sends girls as the free rare breed chick. It's probably how they get rid of at least some of their males that aren't ordered.

The slower feathering is also a clue. I hope you can keep him if he is a he!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Agree.