What breed of chicken are these?

[bein2chicks]

Hi folks,
This pair of bantams have been roaming about the stable where I keep my horses. They have been depositing eggs all around which I collect in hopes of hatching them. I have had great luck and joy in this and now have six chicks! Five are small and black and one is larger and brown. I am reading and studying as much as possible to give them a happy healthy home. Although I have been looking on the internet at breeds I can't figure out with any certainty what type they are. They look a little like Welsummers or maybe Dutch or what about the Serama breed? I would appreciate the expertise of real chicken keepers to identify the parents of my new pets. Whatever they are I find them simply beautiful. Any ideas?

 

[K Spot]

They look like Old English Game Bantams

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I think they look a little big to be OEGB. Maybe bantam welsummers.But it looks like the rooster has slate legs and the hen has yellow.

 

[K Spot]

Yeah, wrong leg colour to be Bantam Welsummers.

The hen looks to have white legs to me.. hmmmm

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Yeah, wrong leg colour to be Bantam Welsummers.

The hen looks to have white legs to me.. hmmmm

Now that I look again you right she does have whiteish legs. I;m tired lol (it has been a usy busy day), But I am stumped. Other than leg color I think they look like bantam welsummers, what do you think? They have me stumped, they dont have the same leg color, what ever they are I was thinking they were the same breed but their leg colors have got me all confused.

 

[K Spot]

Now that I look again you right she does have whiteish legs. I;m tired lol (it has been a usy busy day), But I am stumped. Other than leg color I think they look like bantam welsummers, what do you think? They have me stumped, they dont have the same leg color, what ever they are I was thinking they were the same breed but their leg colors have got me all confused.

Me too - I had a look at American Game Bantams. They kind of look similar.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Me too - I had a look at American Game Bantams. They kind of look similar.

I just looked at some pics and they do.But I think the hen should have slate legs. I am just going to say theyare american game bantams that dont quite meet the standard (the hens leg color).

 

[Kev]

They are completely different colors- the roo is a birchen(aka brown red) and can't be sure from picture, she is either red duckwing or a 'dark brown'- similar to a red duckwing but darker.

Free roaming with unknown ancestry plus mixed colors- usually best to ultimately write them as mixed breed.

oegb are so, so common it is very reasonable to guess they are mixed color oegb or oegb mixed with another bantam breed, I see a dash of sebright mix in the rooster

 

[bein2chicks]

Thanks for all the great discussion and interest in this pair of birds! I'm learning a lot. Would pictures of the chicks be helpful at all? I could take and post some tomorrow. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Kev]

Chick down color don't care about breeds and would not help much in this case- the black chicks are the chick down version of the roo's coloring. Boys would be colored in similar pattern to him, girls would be black with brown "lacing" on necks and breasts- look at pictures of brown reds.. brown red old english bantams or modern game bantams to get the idea.

The brown ones are most likely going to be same as the hen.. the boy versions would be either red duckwing or dark brown and it is possible the roo is carrying 'hidden' genes that would make any brown chicks grow up to something like Quail or black tail buff....

Also the brown chick proves the roo is not pure for brown red, which in turn proves at least he was from at the very least, a mixed color flock.

Sorry, meant to add that's a very beautiful pair. They have a pleasing type.