Not what I thought... Can you help?

[tellynpeep]

This chick came, with a few others, from (I think) Hoover Hatchery. Supposedly sexed as a pullet. S/he is about 10 weeks old. As a day-old, I thought it was an Ancona (see the young chick-pic.) Now I am stumped. You can see by the close-up that the feathers actually look like they have a cuckoo pattern, rather than plain black (like Exchequer) or barred. A Marans cross? I don't know how they could get this pattern. And the comb is, I think, a bit large and red for a 10 week pullet? Ideas please!

 

[tellynpeep]

The one in question is the black and white one of the young chicks.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Exchequer leghorn maybe?

 

[tellynpeep]

Exchequer leghorn maybe?

Except the dark feathers have a cuckoo pattern on them. very weird.

 

[britesidefarm]

For gender, comb looks a bit red, but more pink. I see no saddle feathers or sickle feathers, so I’m just gonna say pullet

 

[FuzzyCritters]

She's not an exchequer leghorn--Hoovers doens't carry them. She is an ancona, but birds from Hoovers hatchery are very poor quality regarding breed standard and correct coloring.

 

[FortCluck]

The coloring looks just a bit diluted. This is an Ancona, I searched it on google.

Hatcheries do not breed to the T what you would see at shows or exhibitions. They’re not perfect, but you do have an Ancona.

 

[tellynpeep]

Thanks all! Very weird; maybe her adult plumage will be more typical. I'm not breeding or showing so not really worried about conformation quality. Really, I got chick fever this spring and went a little crazy. (I really didn't need any more chickens!)