This summer I purchased two chicks at a roadside store to keep as pets. They are probably barnyard mixes, but would love any input on what breeds they could be. Both turned out to be roos, which may get me in trouble with the neighbors, but it's been my experience that roosters make the most cuddly pets if you get them as chicks, and are beautiful birds. See the attached photos.
1) The red one is a mix of oranges & reds, black tail and black spots on the body, green legs, rose comb, big ear lobes. He has very "squishy" soft muscles, is very lightweight for his size and feathers are extremely soft & fluffy, not compact. Although the photo doesn't show it, his tail usually hangs downward like a Sumatra, which his shape resembles a lot, but he has fairly long legs.
2) The mostly grey one has VERY long legs and a long thin beak, but doesn't stand quite as upright as a modern game. Straight comb which flops over & sky blue legs. Almost no ear lobes. He usually holds his tail more upright than is shown in the photos. His tail has been late to develop. He is very heavy for his size (much heavier than the red one, even though I believe him to be several weeks younger than the red one) and his muscles are very firm & stocky. His feathers are more compact & hard.
Both are currently around 4 months old, sizes are what I would consider halfway between a bantam & standard, but they could get bigger. The store owner said he "got them from some guy who thought they were mixed longtail bantams" but he wasn't sure. Both were mottled brown & black when chicks, both with an eye stripe.
Any ideas?
1) The red one is a mix of oranges & reds, black tail and black spots on the body, green legs, rose comb, big ear lobes. He has very "squishy" soft muscles, is very lightweight for his size and feathers are extremely soft & fluffy, not compact. Although the photo doesn't show it, his tail usually hangs downward like a Sumatra, which his shape resembles a lot, but he has fairly long legs.
2) The mostly grey one has VERY long legs and a long thin beak, but doesn't stand quite as upright as a modern game. Straight comb which flops over & sky blue legs. Almost no ear lobes. He usually holds his tail more upright than is shown in the photos. His tail has been late to develop. He is very heavy for his size (much heavier than the red one, even though I believe him to be several weeks younger than the red one) and his muscles are very firm & stocky. His feathers are more compact & hard.
Both are currently around 4 months old, sizes are what I would consider halfway between a bantam & standard, but they could get bigger. The store owner said he "got them from some guy who thought they were mixed longtail bantams" but he wasn't sure. Both were mottled brown & black when chicks, both with an eye stripe.
Any ideas?
