White leghorn chicks presenting with black spots

[Smoothann]

I have recently hatched 9 - pure (supposedly) white leghorn chicks from eggs I purchased from a local breeder. He claims all of his adults are white, pure leghorns. You will see in the pictures below which make me think that either there is something mixed in OR there is some type of recessive black gene? Is that even a thing? I know about white recessive genes but this is new to me.
I have a young small flock of white leghorn already and I want to start breeding, but I do NOT want to introduce these and ruin my line without knowing for sure what's going on. Any help or advice?

 

[sourland]

@The Moonshiner Can you help?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Ya they're not pure.
White leghorns should have 2 copies of dominant white which would not show any black. One copy might give you a pure white bird but most often they show a little black like yours.
There's not a recessive black that could pop up in a pure line.
Dominant white also doesn't do much to cover or hid gold tones so white leghorns don't carry any gold, red etc. Sometimes that's another hint of not being pure. Gold tones show up later though.
I wouldn't breed those if your goal is pure white leghorns. Too easy to find the real deal to be chancing things with those IMO.

 

[Smoothann]

Ya they're not pure.
White leghorns should have 2 copies of dominant white which would not show any black. One copy might give you a pure white bird but most often they show a little black like yours.
There's not a recessive black that could pop up in a pure line.
Dominant white also doesn't do much to cover or hid gold tones so white leghorns don't carry any gold, red etc. Sometimes that's another hint of not being pure. Gold tones show up later though.
I wouldn't breed those if your goal is pure white leghorns. Too easy to find the real deal to be chancing things with those IMO.

I've thought about having them tested for the two copies of white, but probably easier to just get rid of these and hatch from my own since they just started laying. I appreciate your help! I do not want to be an irresponsible breeder.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Ya idk what testing would cost and didn't/don't know if they can test for dominant white.
I wouldn't mess with it either. No doubt in my mind there's something going on with those to stay clear of.
Whites are so common that it'd be too easy to get some better ones. If yours are starring to lay that's the way to go.
Another idea..... Whites kill it at shows. Lots of nice white show lines out there. Maybe look into buying a few eggs. Hatch a few and put those roosters over your hens and future hens. Improve your line that way.

 

[Smoothann]

Ya idk what testing would cost and didn't/don't know if they can test for dominant white.
I wouldn't mess with it either. No doubt in my mind there's something going on with those to stay clear of.
Whites are so common that it'd be too easy to get some better ones. If yours are starring to lay that's the way to go.
Another idea..... Whites kill it at shows. Lots of nice white show lines out there. Maybe look into buying a few eggs. Hatch a few and put those roosters over your hens and future hens. Improve your line that way.

I agree and appreciate your help and advice, truly! Thank you!