went to buy a barred rock, was later told it was a black australorp but now is getting patterned fea

[Zrcalo]

Everything points to a black australorp except the barring on the feathers!

Maybe it's a mix?

 

[debid]

White wing tips don't indicate breed or pattern. They're extremely common in hatchery chicks and often change during the juvenile molts. The white spot on the head means a chick will be barred or cuckoo patterned. Yours is showing barring and is probably male because of how light it is but wait for it to finish feathering.

 

[Zrcalo]

That's what I was thinking...

aw well. at least it went to a home that can have roos.

It was the /only/ one in the shipment that looked like it. So I'll bet someone felt sorry for the 'lil guy and threw him in with some hens.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Our Australorps don't have white in their feathers. We have 3 one week old's and 1 6 week old. None have had barring or white in their feathers.

Could be crossed or maybe a lad???




They all did have white belly's though hahahahah


Luna was about 4 weeks old here

 

[debid]

It's not an Australorp -- it's a barred Rock. Both can have varying amounts of white or yellow in the chick down. I had an Australorp that was decidedly penguin in appearance, white tips, and she was solid black with a green sheen by 10 weeks. You'd never guess she'd started off half white.

In barred and cuckoo patterned birds, females tend to look darker and males tend to look lighter as chicks but there is enough variance that I'd hesitate to decide anything from chick down. It usually becomes much more obvious around six or seven weeks when they are done feathering and the males are growing their comb.

 

[chart]

What's a lad?

 

[ESofVA]

I bought an 3 Australorp chicks (from a breeder) and just 1 looks like this!!!


Doesn't look like an Aussie to me but what is it??? A barred rock???

 

[Bens-Hens]

What's a lad?

Sorry, slang term for a male.

Not sure on the above picture, but certainly has some thick legs and early comb development.

 

[debid]

I bought an 3 Australorp chicks (from a breeder) and just 1 looks like this!!! Doesn't look like an Aussie to me but what is it??? A barred rock???

Looks like somebody hopped a fence! I'd guess it's a mix with something cuckoo patterned.

 

[Bill Matthews]

Your baby chick could be a Black Sex Link male....If it had a pronounced white spot on it's head at hatching that is a strong indicator of RIR x Barred Cross Breeding...However, the white neck stripe in one picture may indicate a Barred Rock male.....You also said you got one Black Sex Link at the same time......Probably safe to say Black Sex Link male....Good looking little feller at any rate...These actually make beautiful flock roosters with their light barring/silver hues and bright red wattles and combs...If it is a Sex Link...