Our first chick hatched. RIR mother, but not sure which rooster is the father. Help?

[mrsjikz]

So we gave my sister a couple of eggs that were still warm to put under her broody hen (we don't have any broody hens yet). Yesterday she called to tell us one hatched! We know the mother is one of three of our RIRs because they were the only ones laying at the time this egg was gathered. It may be too soon to take a guess, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. I'm curious which of our roosters may be the father. We have a Welsummer, Blue Splash Polish, Easter Egger, Black Copper Marans and Birchen Marans for our cockerels. I don't think that either of the Marans really got to the RIR's, but I know the other three have. I'm leaning toward our Welsummer being the father. Any ideas?







Thanks!

 

[hdowden]

due to color of chick and leg color my bet is the welsummer

EE would probably have a beard and green legs
polish would have a crest
the marans would probably have made the chicks down a different color

 

[Pele]

Is your Welsummer your dominant roo? I'm thinking he's the father.

 

[mrsjikz]

Oh, and if it helps at all, my sister said the eyes are a blue color.

 

[mrsjikz]

Those were my thoughts as well, hdowden

Pele, we actually haven't figured out if our Welsummer or our Polish is the dominate one. The little EE would like to think he is. lol... He was separated at first with a group of younger chickens and I think he is the dominate one over the two Marans, oddly enough, but I have seen him chased off by both the Welsummer and the Polish. Just not sure which of those two is dominate.

 

[Pele]

Those were my thoughts as well, hdowden

Pele, we actually haven't figured out if our Welsummer or our Polish is the dominate one. The little EE would like to think he is. lol... He was separated at first with a group of younger chickens and I think he is the dominate one over the two Marans, oddly enough, but I have seen him chased off by both the Welsummer and the Polish. Just not sure which of those two is dominate.

Well, if the rest of the clutch hatches out like this one, you'll have your answer . Occasionally a subordinate roo will slip a liason in, but the dominant roo gets the lionshare of chick-making.

 

[ChickenExtreme]

due to color of chick and leg color my bet is the welsummer

EE would probably have a beard and green legs
polish would have a crest
the marans would probably have made the chicks down a different color

X 2 for sure

 

[PioneerPrincess]

From my experience with hatching chicks, I've noticed that feathered feet seems to be the dominate gene. We have a banty cochin roo which is over our small, clean-feathered (except two hens) flock. I *think* that all or the majority of his chicks have had feathered feet. Also, be sure to look at the combs. Does your chick have a single comb or a pea comb? You can usually tell what it'lll be, even when they're this young. If the chick has a pea comb, then I would say the father is an EE. I hope this helped!! And that is a cute chick, by the way!

 

[wastintime202]

Darling chick!! Makes me want to go get some..I don't have a roo.

 

[donrae]

I'm thinking the Wellie as well.