Sold to me as 'Australorps' but the Roo and two of the nine pullets have feathered legs

[mtnviewfarms]

so they are obviously not pure Australorps as they have clean black legs as do the
other 7 pullets I purchased. I had driven a long way to view and pick up the birds so
when found out about the 'feathered' legs on a few of them I went on and got them anyway as they looked robust and healthy.

Can anyone check out the photos I've posted of the Roo and offer some ideas of
what breed he may be mixed with?

Are feathered legs a 'dominant' trait or will I be able to use him for breeding which I
had planned and only select clean legged offspring to keep breeding to get a more
'true' Australorp?

Thanks.

 

[Y N dottes]

the rooster doesnt look that big,.... It looks like it could be a Cochin, Australorp cross. Im not sure if feathered legs are a dominant trait

 

[hdowden]

that looks like a pure cochin, bad quality but pure. if it was a cross with a clean legged breed then its legs would not be as feathered as they are

 

[Y N dottes]

does that mean the feathered leg gene is more like a 'very feathered, somewhat feathered, barely feathered and none' depending on how much or less the parents have, instead of 'feathered legs or not'?

 

[donrae]

does that mean the feathered leg gene is more like a 'very feathered, somewhat feathered, barely feathered and none' depending on how much or less the parents have, instead of 'feathered legs or not'?

I don't know for sure, but that seems like what I've seen on here. A bird with one feather legged parent and one clean legged parent can have sparse feathering, and I'd imagine if you bred that sparsely featherd bird to a clean legged bird you'd breed the feathering out.

That roo does look like a cochin, you woudn't want to use him for breeding if you're wanting australorps. You'll eventually get clean legged black birds, but the body type will be all wrong and if you're wanting a good steady layer, well, cochins aren't known for that. Now, if you want to breed in broodiness and size to a mixed breed flock, Cochins might be a way to go, although I agree he's not very big.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

He looks like hatchery quality cochin to me. I would probably look for a purebred australorp if you want to breed. Getting rid of feathered legs can be a pain in the neck as it is a more dominant trait. It would take quite a few generations to breed out when you could just start with a pure australorp instead.

 

[mtnviewfarms]

Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful and knowledgeable replys. I will take your advice and look for a good quality Australorp Rooster
to use if I breed them.

 

[heatherscooby77]

I do want to say that Cochins are nice chickens too!

 

[ESofVA]

I don't know for sure, but that seems like what I've seen on here. A bird with one feather legged parent and one clean legged parent can have sparse feathering, and I'd imagine if you bred that sparsely featherd bird to a clean legged bird you'd breed the feathering out.

That roo does look like a cochin, you woudn't want to use him for breeding if you're wanting australorps. You'll eventually get clean legged black birds, but the body type will be all wrong and if you're wanting a good steady layer, well, cochins aren't known for that. Now, if you want to breed in broodiness and size to a mixed breed flock, Cochins might be a way to go, although I agree he's not very big.

on the " you woudn't want to use him for breeding if you're wanting australorps"...x2
get an Aussie roo...I wouldn't want to use that one! Actually I wouldn't use it for breeding with anything.