Phoenix ID?

[ajplmama]

I bought a collection of chicks this spring including 6 Black Breasted Red Phoenix. I seemt ohave 4 hens and 2 roosters but one of the "roosters" doesn't really have a comb like the other. He has the colouring of a rooster but lacks the comb. Could this just be a genetic thing or not a pure Phoenix or is it a variation?

One rooster:

The rooster in question:

Close up of his head:

One of the hens:

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

unfortunately, you have what looks to be bb red cubalaya, definately no where near Phoenix birds. The comb alone is a dead give away, as for the bird on pic 1, he doesnt look quite right to me either, may be a cross? My phoenix bantams are very slinder bodied birds, not near as bulky as he is.
Sorry
Aubrey

 

[ajplmama]

Maybe they are some kind if cross because the hens look way more like the photos I've googled of phoenix than of cubalaya. What colour eggs and lay rate would I expect of a cubalaya? The parents of these were laying small bluish green eggs 3-5 a week and I think phoenix lay that colour but way less frequently.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

YEAP, The hens do look a lot better. the eggs I get are usually white or brownish dependant on the color of the birds. I dont know on the cubalayas, I have never raised any of them. As for lay rate, some phoenix lay every day some every other day.
Did these come from a hatchery or a private breeder?
Aubrey

 

[ajplmama]

These are from a private breeder. I'm not overly concerned about breeds but I'd like to have an idea of what I have in the barn you know? There are also silver laced wyandottes, RIR and speckled sussex. So far the Wyandottes are the friendliest and good at getting out and free ranging in the yard. The Sussex seem to stay inside and eat!

Another thing, my son picked this "breed" because he wanted some coloured eggs and we haven't been able to get anything locally. I find them pretty flighty and not much like the bigger birds but they are so good at insect control compared to the big bodied birds and they range much further. Is this something to expect from smaller birds? I've never had anything but standards before.

 

[Jayare's Chicks]

I have Rose Combed Silver Phoenix, Rose Combed Gold Phoenix and Single Combed Gold Phoenix and all of them have White earlobes and lay a tan colored egg. Your roo in question may just have a miss shaped comb but I don't think they are pure Phoenix and are mixed with something else.

I am no chicken expert but they don't look like mine. I have always wondered how and what it took whoever created my Rose Combed Phoenix. I got my Single Combed Phoenix from hatching out some of their babies and just seperated them from the others.

I got some pics of them posted somewhere on here in a couple different threads. I have dial-up out here in the country so it takes a while to upload pics. If you can't find them I may be able to repost them on here when I get a chance. (I'm working this weekend and have my FIL visiting till Tuesday night.)

Jayare

 

[Jayare's Chicks]

I moved up an old thread in the Buy~Sell~Trade section in Chicks & Chickens called "Bantam Phoenix Pair Indiana Sold" so you can find some pics of other Phoenix for comparison.

Jayare

 

[ajplmama]

Thanks Jayare!

 

[bishopschickens]

Yes, phoenix are supposed to have a nice single comb. I would not say the second one is cubalaya though. I have breed those and he doesnt appear to be that lanky. The second appears to be a phoenix cross, because he does have some longer saddle feathers but neither appear to be getting as long as they should. He probably mixed them with some other form of game bird probably BB Red Old English.

 

[ajplmama]

Thanks bishopschickens, I'm not familiar with Old English so I'm off to google!