Rooster? Breed?

[Stephanie8806]

Hey there! So pictured below are two Rhode Island Red chicks that I got in a farm store haul just over 3weeks ago. But are supposedly RIR, they came from the same bin.

I think, regardless of the breed, the larger one is a rooster. It’s comb and wattles are already developing, it’s legs and feet are huge, and the body size is bigger and taller than even the Black jersey giant chicks I got.

I’m curious though, he seems so dang light in color compared to the little hen next to him. Is this normal for a RIR? Is there a chance he’ll darken up? The only other non-black chicks I got were “color-pack”, which are basically Easter Eggers but with Legbar genes instead of Amerucana. They are markedly more grey and have legbar type patterning. There was also an ISA brown bin next to the RIR bin, maybe a chance of a mix up?

Time will tell, of course, but I’m just curious if this is normal for a RIR, to maybe darken later? Pictures below are of the two chicks, the close-up is on the face of the probable roo.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hey there! So pictured below are two Rhode Island Red chicks that I got in a farm store haul just over 3weeks ago. But are supposedly RIR, they came from the same bin.

I think, regardless of the breed, the larger one is a rooster. It’s comb and wattles are already developing, it’s legs and feet are huge, and the body size is bigger and taller than even the Black jersey giant chicks I got.

I’m curious though, he seems so dang light in color compared to the little hen next to him. Is this normal for a RIR? Is there a chance he’ll darken up? The only other non-black chicks I got were “color-pack”, which are basically Easter Eggers but with Legbar genes instead of Amerucana. They are markedly more grey and have legbar type patterning. There was also an ISA brown bin next to the RIR bin, maybe a chance of a mix up?

Time will tell, of course, but I’m just curious if this is normal for a RIR, to maybe darken later? Pictures below are of the two chicks, the close-up is on the face of the probable roo.

The lighter colored one looks like a Buff Rock.

The darker one looks kind of like a Sussex, the legs are white, not yellow like a RIR should have.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I’ve had buff Orpingtons before, and buff rocks look similar. This doesn’t look the way my orps looked. I’m thinking now maybe a sexlink.

It’s hard for me to believe that in a bin of 50 chicks labeled as RIR from a big hatchery at a large chain farm store, I somehow ended up with both chicks not being the type labeled. I don’t think the dark one is a Sussex.

I just had an idea though... This bin of “RIR” was right next to a bin of ISA browns. I think maybe the labels got accidentally switched when they put the chicks on the floor. These chicks were clearly two different colors from the get go(light gold and orange), which is consistent with sex links.

I think I may have two Isa browns. AMD of that’s the case, the lighter one is most definitely a cockerel

They are most definitely not ISA browns.
The smaller one is a Speckled Sussex. The bigger one might be a buff rock. It is definitely a cockerel though.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I’ve had buff Orpingtons before, and buff rocks look similar. This doesn’t look the way my orps looked. I’m thinking now maybe a sexlink.

It’s hard for me to believe that in a bin of 50 chicks labeled as RIR from a big hatchery at a large chain farm store, I somehow ended up with both chicks not being the type labeled. I don’t think the dark one is a Sussex.

I just had an idea though... This bin of “RIR” was right next to a bin of ISA browns. I think maybe the labels got accidentally switched when they put the chicks on the floor. These chicks were clearly two different colors from the get go(light gold and orange), which is consistent with sex links.

I think I may have two Isa browns. AMD of that’s the case, the lighter one is most definitely a cockerel

Isa Brown males would be white, they're a type of Red Sex-link like Cinnamon Queens.

Still looks like a Buff Rock, & a Sussex to me.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

So here’s some pics of the darker one in the sunshine. Some patterning in the wings, but it doesn’t look like Sussex patterning to me

It's feathers are typical for red breeds. The next set of feathers will not show that pattern

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Thats what I was thinking. Based on the body and neck feathers, I think the wings will be solid red/brown. Which makes me think isa or some other red/brown sexlink for both

A red sexlink would not have that pattern on the wings and would have some pure white feathers This bird is red, calling it a Production Red or hatchery Rhode Island Red are both correct Red Sexlinks are different as they are a specific cross that often includes RIRs. Here is a pic of a Red Sexlink chick (not my own) versus one of my heritage RIR chicks. Notice the pattern differences and how RIRs lack white on the tails and simply have patterned wings That is what yours is!

 

[Stephanie8806]

The lighter colored one looks like a Buff Rock.

The darker one looks kind of like a Sussex, the legs are white, not yellow like a RIR should have.

I’ve had buff Orpingtons before, and buff rocks look similar. This doesn’t look the way my orps looked. I’m thinking now maybe a sexlink.

It’s hard for me to believe that in a bin of 50 chicks labeled as RIR from a big hatchery at a large chain farm store, I somehow ended up with both chicks not being the type labeled. I don’t think the dark one is a Sussex.

I just had an idea though... This bin of “RIR” was right next to a bin of ISA browns. I think maybe the labels got accidentally switched when they put the chicks on the floor. These chicks were clearly two different colors from the get go(light gold and orange), which is consistent with sex links.

I think I may have two Isa browns. AMD of that’s the case, the lighter one is most definitely a cockerel

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Largest is a red broiler of some sort, likely a Red Ranger. This explains size difference. Buff Rocks are decently uncommon and wouldn't be that much larger than a RIR. The smaller is indeed a RIR or Production Red, Speckled Sussex have a different appearance

 

[Stephanie8806]

A red sexlink would not have that pattern on the wings and would have some pure white feathers This bird is red, calling it a Production Red or hatchery Rhode Island Red are both correct Red Sexlinks are different as they are a specific cross that often includes RIRs. Here is a pic of a Red Sexlink chick (not my own) versus one of my heritage RIR chicks. Notice the pattern differences and how RIRs lack white on the tails and simply have patterned wings That is what yours is!
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Thank you! I was fairly certain that these weren’t the same quality as a heritage RIR or a pure bloodline. Production Red or low “quality” RIR is okay by me

I’m definitely curious about the little roo. I don’t think he’s a broiler or meat variety... Although large bodied, he’s proportional and not breast heavy like most meat varieties. I’ll have to see!

 

[Stephanie8806]

I mean, I would love a speckled Sussex, they’ve been on my wish list for a while.... but there’s no sign of speckles on the true feathers coming in... I’ll take some better pictures in the sun now!