Still can’t figure out what these birds are!!

[Thorn_shrike]

Hello! I’ve posted several times over the past 4-5 months about these two buff mysteries and I still can’t decide what they are…breed OR gender

They were purchased from rural king as “English orpingtons” they are definitely not orpingtons. They’re absolutely gorgeous birds I just wish I knew what they were. Rural king gets their chicks from Hoovers, based on that they’d have to be buff chanteclers BUT one looks exactly like a buff Wyandotte (which Hoovers does not sell, I didn’t even see buff in their assorted Wyandotte option).

Now that they are at pol and their combs are growing and reddening I figured I’d ask everyone’s opinions! First looks to have a pea comb, second’s comb looks like a rose comb, exactly like a wyandottes. The second one is also heavier and wider.

What does everyone think about gender? No squatting from either one yet, they seem to maybe be getting more curious about the nesting box. No attempts to crow, no tap dancing or trying to mount others. From what I see no pointy saddle or hackle feathers, no spur growth. I’m really leaning towards pullet on both but the Wyandotte lookalike has me scratching my head because it’s a little bigger and heavier, and it’s got richer colored neck feathers (not pointy though I don’t think)

Last pic is of them side by side to show how similar their coloring is, the lighting in their coop made it look like one was a lot paler

 

[JedJackson]

Buff Chanteclers.

 

[Thorn_shrike]

Buff Chanteclers.

Do you think the first has a pea comb? Or is it a different type of comb or variation? In the last pic it’s the one with its head not covered by a fry lol

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Both buff chantecler pullets.

 

[JedJackson]

This is not a standard variety, so there is going to be some variability since it's in the early stages of development. And also because they are hatchery birds. The standard comb for Chanteclers is called a cushion comb. It should look like a flatter rose comb. This type of comb is created by crossing rose combs with pea combs, so your pea combed bird is probably a throwback. These are one of the best breeds for cold weather and should have plenty of under fluff.

 

[Thorn_shrike]

This is not a standard variety, so there is going to be some variability since it's in the early stages of development. And also because they are hatchery birds. The standard comb for Chanteclers is called a cushion comb. It should look like a flatter rose comb. This type of comb is created by crossing rose combs with pea combs, so your pea combed bird is probably a throwback. These are one of the best breeds for cold weather and should have plenty of under fluff.

That explains why I couldn’t decide if it had a cushion or a rose comb ! They are both extremely fluffy, much more loosely feathered than any of my other birds

 

[MysteryChicken]

This is not a standard variety, so there is going to be some variability since it's in the early stages of development. And also because they are hatchery birds. The standard comb for Chanteclers is called a cushion comb. It should look like a flatter rose comb. This type of comb is created by crossing rose combs with pea combs, so your pea combed bird is probably a throwback. These are one of the best breeds for cold weather and should have plenty of under fluff.

Cushion comb is a flat sometimes smooth variation of strawberry.
I say sometimes smooth, because it needs the smooth recessive gene.

I do have others with the other variations:

Walnut(Both Smooth, Wrinkles, Incomplete, & Horned)

Strawberry(Both Smooth, & Bumpy)

Cushion(Both Smooth, wrinkled)

Will have to get good pictures of the rest.

 

[Thorn_shrike]

Cushion comb is a flat sometimes smooth variation of strawberry.
I say sometimes smooth, because it needs the smooth recessive gene.
View attachment 3900745
I do have others with the other variations:

Walnut(Both Smooth, Wrinkles, Incomplete, & Horned)

Strawberry(Both Smooth, & Bumpy)

Cushion(Both Smooth, wrinkled)

Will have to get good pictures of the rest.

My EE (who is mixed with a Wyandotte) has a comb about like the one in your picture. I thought I was just bad at identifying comb type but I guess maybe it’s a little more complicated!

 

[MysteryChicken]

My EE (who is mixed with a Wyandotte) has a comb about like the one in your picture. I thought I was just bad at identifying comb type but I guess maybe it’s a little more complicated!

It's both pretty simple, & complicated.
Walnut is a combination of Rose, & Pea Combs.