Phoenix, silver Leghorn, something else...?

[Gibs]

Hey all,

Any thoughts on what breed this little guy is? He looks similar to a couple of Phoenixes I've seen, but at almost 5 months, he has a less impressive tail than my Sussex rooster of the same age. (Although it's worth noting that he was an "extra" in a large order from a hatchery, so if he was technically a Phoenix, I wouldn't expect him to have a magnificent tail quite like you'd see in breeding or showing stock.)

If not Phoenix, maybe some unusual color of Leghorn? Note: he looks pretty buff in the first picture, but please check out the second where he's standing next to a Delaware pullet of 5 months. He's actually a pretty scrawny little guy!

He has the following characteristics:

Single comb
White earlobes
Yellow shanks
Pale skin
No extra toes, etc.

His sickle feathers aren't particularly impressive in length, but they do have some iridescence (dark green), as do the dark feathers on his wings (blues and purples).

Please let me know if there's any other telling information I can gather. Cheers!

 

[Cel45]

Based on the leg color i am voting for silver Leghorn.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Edited to change my answer to silver leghorn after having a look at them.

 

[donrae]

Silver Leghorn.

Since you say an extra from a hatchery, I'm thinking MMM? As the bonus/exotic chick? They have silver Leghorns.

 

[BantamLover21]

Looks like a Silver Leghorn to me.

 

[Alexandra33]

I agree, Silver Leghorn.

He's a handsome boy!

~Alex

 

[drumstick diva]

silver leghorn

 

[Gibs]

Great, thank you all so much!

donrae, I think it was indeed McMurray - they actually sent me a couple extras, but the other one (a little white Polish) was easier to identify.

 

[donrae]

He could be a nice addition to your flock, if you're wanting to breed your own replacement layers. I don't know if silver Leghorns have a high rate of production like the whites or browns, but when I put a brown Leghorn rooster over my flock of mixed dual purpose hens years and years ago, I was quite happy with the rate of lay in the offspring pullets. Granted, the cockerels were a bit thin for eating, but they still made some of a meal.