What color should I look for as a mate?

[Jessi.Smith]

I have a purple spalding peachick, about 9 weeks old. I do not know the gender, but I am wondering what color I should look for in a potential mate.
So far the guesses are that it is a male, with the caveat that it is still too early to really know.

-the one on the right.

 

[KsKingBee]

It is a Spalding hen but not Purple.

 

[Jessi.Smith]

It is a Spalding hen but not Purple.

The breeder said it came out if their purple pen. I am very new to this and still trying to figure out the colors and patterns.

Does that mean I should look for some more Spaldings to put with it?

And you think it is a hen? Do you mind telling me why? I figured since it still had so much barring that it was most likely a cock.

 

[KsKingBee]

The breeder said it came out if their purple pen. I am very new to this and still trying to figure out the colors and patterns.

Does that mean I should look for some more Spaldings to put with it?

And you think it is a hen? Do you mind telling me why? I figured since it still had so much barring that it was most likely a cock.

Judging by the first pic it is dark and the barring is wide and singular which is also true for IB hens but Spalding hens tend to have more barring than IB hens and less than IB cocks. High Spalding cocks lose their barring the closer they get to Green. Green cocks have no barring. She may have fooled me and can look dramatically different in a couple of weeks which is why I DNA test all of my Spaldings, I don't want to accidentally sell someone the wrong sex.

 

[KsKingBee]

IF it actually came from a Purple pen, meaning that someone in that pen is only split to Purple your chick could be split to Purple if it is a cock. If it is a hen it is not Purple at all. I tend to think the seller knows less than you do or was taking advantage of you.

 

[Jessi.Smith]

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything to me. I have all sorts of notebooks that I am making notes in as I learn
I have 3 whites that I will be doing DNA on, so I may add this one too. I have just been putting off clipping their nails for a blood sample.

 

[Jessi.Smith]

One quick random question, are bleed stop powders safe for birds?

 

[Midnightman14]

One quick random question, are bleed stop powders safe for birds

Yes.

 

[Midnightman14]

Also that spalding is not a purple. Sounds like the breeder didn't know what he was doing or was taking advantage of you.

 

[Jessi.Smith]

I don't think the breeder was trying to take advantage of me. She told me she wasn't sure what the chick was when it first hatched, just that it came out of her purple pen. She asked around and was told it was spalding split pied. I will put a baby picture below. I have been trying to take lots of pictures and make notes to help me learn in the future. The "blue" designation on the picture is just the band color.

Regardless, I am going to enjoy watching the little mystery grow. I just don't know what I should be on the lookout for as it's buddy/future lover . I don't want to put it with the purples or the whites.