Mystery chick is a big rooster now... but what is he?

[Molly020403]

That looks like a Barnevelder!

He could definitely be a Barnevelder! I didn't even know they existed!

 

[sealer39]

Barnevelder was my first thought also but I don’t know for sure. I don’t think he’s an SS or a Welsummer. Here is my 16wk Welsummer cockerel for comparison.

 

[Molly020403]

Barnevelder was my first thought also but I don’t know for sure. I don’t think he’s an SS or a Welsummer. Here is my 16wk Welsummer cockerel for comparison.
View attachment 2185605

Wow! Very different from my guy!

 

[jolenesdad]

Barnevelder was my first thought also but I don’t know for sure. I don’t think he’s an SS or a Welsummer. Here is my 16wk Welsummer cockerel for comparison.
View attachment 2185605

Pretty boy.

 

[house1917]

Because of his chest color I thought to rule out Welsummer as well even in really little guys they're chests turn black quickly... Barnevelder or Partridge Rock are both in play though- he's got a great head and I personally like the way his comb is set- good looking bird!

 

[Molly020403]

Because of his chest color I thought to rule out Welsummer as well even in really little guys they're chests turn black quickly... Barnevelder or Partridge Rock are both in play though- he's got a great head and I personally like the way his comb is set- good looking bird!

Good point! Thank you for your expertise! I'm pretty new to this.

 

[Molly020403]

Here is an update on my rooster!

 

[NatJ]

He's a nice looking rooster, but definitely a puzzler for breed!

With the rose SINGLE comb, red earlobes, breast not entirely black, but some black on the breast and body: I cannot find any breed photo on the McMurray website that he matches!

I checked rose comb breeds as well as single combs, because rose comb parents occasionally produce single comb offspring--still no matches.

A few of the closest, like Partridge Rock, get ruled out by the chick color (he has nice stripes, Partridge Rock chicks are dark all over). Laced Wyandottes and Red Caps also lack stripes as chicks (rose comb breeds, but small chance of getting a single-comb bird.)

So I'm guessing Whiting True Green, even though they do not show any rooster photos. Because the photos do show some stripey chicks, and the hen photos show a few that are brown with some black feathers--so I am guessing that roosters could also be brown with some black feathers. With a hen it would be easy to check by her egg color, but with a rooster you'd have to hatch eggs and check his daughters' egg color to have a chance of figuring that out.

Or else they sent you a chick of a breed that isn't even available for sale! Maybe watch what new breeds they introduce next year?

Quite the puzzle McMurray sent you!

 

[Minky]

That does NOT look like a Welsummer, and not a Barnevelder. I'd say Rhode Island red or something

 

[Molly020403]

He's a nice looking rooster, but definitely a puzzler for breed!

With the rose comb, red earlobes, breast not entirely black, but some black on the breast and body: I cannot find any breed photo on the McMurray website that he matches!

I checked rose comb breeds as well as single combs, because rose comb parents occasionally produce single comb offspring--still no matches.

A few of the closest, like Partridge Rock, get ruled out by the chick color (he has nice stripes, Partridge Rock chicks are dark all over). Laced Wyandottes and Red Caps also lack stripes as chicks (rose comb breeds, but small chance of getting a single-comb bird.)

So I'm guessing Whiting True Green, even though they do not show any rooster photos. Because the photos do show some stripey chicks, and the hen photos show a few that are brown with some black feathers--so I am guessing that roosters could also be brown with some black feathers. With a hen it would be easy to check by her egg color, but with a rooster you'd have to hatch eggs and check his daughters' egg color to have a chance of figuring that out.

Or else they sent you a chick of a breed that isn't even available for sale! Maybe watch what new breeds they introduce next year?

Quite the puzzle McMurray sent you!

Thank you so much! It makes me feel better that I'm not the only one who is puzzled! I will hatch some eggs from him next year and see what we get! I would be very happy with a whiting true green.