Mystery chick

[Grumpina]

This is my mystery chick from McMurray. I really hope s/he is a hen, because s/he has the absolute sweetest disposition. Nothing at all like my roo of the same age. All these birds hatched May 18, making them almost 6 weeks in these pictures. I’ll post a baby and toddler picture too. I really just want to know what type of chicken s/he is So I can keep holding out hope for a hen.

The tail is greyer than the back, and there is a tiny bit of white at the tip of at least wing that you can see in the overhead shot. In the picture with two chickens, s/he is seated next to one of my black giants of the same age. S/he is definitely one of the more petite chickens, but because we live in the north, we keep heavier birds, so s/he is not really that small.

Any guesses?

 

[JadeFarms]

I’m thinking australorp. Are the bottoms of its feet yellow? It’s a cockerel.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I really just want to know what type of chicken s/he is So I can keep holding out hope for a hen.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The white earlobes rule out Australorp, which was also my first thought.

Thinking black Minorca as a top possibility now.. White face black Spanish would be the alternative.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/black_minorcas.html

Either one should be a nice addition.

ETA: Aside from comb size, I'm not seeing ANY red that indicates cockerel and I WOULD still be holding out hope for a pullet.. even after raising hundreds of chicks with half being boys.

 

[Grumpina]

Bottom of the feet

 

[JadeFarms]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The white earlobes rule out Australorp, which was also my first thought.

Thinking black Minorca as a top possibility now.. White face black Spanish would be the alternative.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/black_minorcas.html

Either one should be a nice addition.

ETA: Aside from comb size, I'm not seeing ANY red that indicates cockerel and I WOULD still be holding out hope for a pullet.. even after raising hundreds of chicks with half being boys.

I didn’t see the white earlobes, I agree with you.

 

[Grumpina]

White face black Spanish would be the alternative.

That was my 16yo chicken wrangler’s guess. I only worry about them being cold-hardy. And as far as temperament goes, I already know this one is perfect!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Bottom of the feet

Is the easiest way to tell true skin color.. Looks like white skin to me.

That was my 16yo chicken wrangler’s guess. I only worry about them being cold-hardy. And as far as temperament goes, I already know this one is perfect!

Both breeds have white skin.. it will be easier to see the differences once mature.. sometimes it's as little as number of points on the comb, or eye color. But even though these two breeds are similar the body should be thinner on the the WFBS.. I bred them for a short while.. fantastic birds and prolific layers.. temperament was great.. How far north are you? Ventilation being key to preventing frost bite.. if the comb tips DO get frostbitten.. they will fall off and should not freeze in following years. That and keeping wattles out of cold water I think are the problem areas. But with plenty of other birds to snuggle with and such they should be fine.

Something says Minorca to me, but Spanish would be great fun!

 

[Grumpina]

We have 10 total - all the same age. We are building them a pretty nice coop with good ventilation and a droppings board so we can keep the coop moisture free. Our last chickens didn’t have it so good and our roo got frostbite one day. Then a weasel got in and that was the end of everything.

Right now they are using a little red cup that fills when they use it for water. I am wondering if nipples would be better. Does using nipples get their wattles wet? Their coop is built onto the back of our barn, so they do have electricity, but I’m hoping to make their coop right so they don’t need it.

Thanks for your input. Having a mystery chick is stressful; I’m not sure I would do it again!

oh, and we live in Maine, so it does get pretty cold, but not Minnesota cold