Wild chickens joined my flock, what are they?

[FeatherToad]

Long time lurker here finally made an account

I was wondering if anyone could ID what breed (or most likely breeds plural) these gals are. They've been hanging out near my coop looking for handouts and socializing. Today they let themselves right in when I let my girls out to free range.

There are tons of wild chickens in the neighborhood, and there lots of game cock breeders in the general area... but these guys I can't quite figure out. they're pretty petite even compared to my white leghorns, have almost no combs, cute little feathered legs, and hold their wings in a way that reminds me of bantams.





Thanks guys!

 

[drumstick diva]

don't know what they are but, hope they didn't bring any unwanted surprises (mites, lice,worms, disease) to your flock. Wonder if someone dumped them.

 

[Kev]

Very likely feral chicken mixed with someone's yard domestics.

Game or 'wild chicken' crossed with domestics generally turn out like that, makes it hard to guess what the domestic part might be.. the only real clues would be if they have rather unique traits like comb type besides pea or single(pea is rather common in games, hard to use this as a domestic breed clue), black skin(silkie), extra toes etc.

I think they might have the pea comb at least, not super helpful though.. one looks like it may have black skin but it could be "gypsy face"- a trait where only the head skin is dark and rest of the body skin normal- has nothing to do with any breed in particular and more to do with the feather color(black or mostly black).

however if you know she has black/grayish skin all over her body then silkie is probably part of the mix and also probable contributor of the feather legs.

 

[BlueBaby]

Could they have belonged to someone before, and then got blown around somehow by a tropical storm or hurricane over there?

 

[QueenMisha]

I'd say gamefowl crossed with some kind of featherlegged bantam. What cuties! Definitely be sure to check them for lice, mites, and worms. I'd usually suggest quarantine but since they're already in with the the flock, a bit late for that. But they do look quite healthy from these photos.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm thinking along the lines of Queen Misha as well.
The silver necked girl looks a bit like my Old English Game bantam females.

They are lovely looking girls.

 

[FeatherToad]

Thanks everyone,

Didn't think such a thing as game bantams existed but these gals certainly look it!

As far as parasites and disease goes... My girls have been exposed to these birds from the get go. We kinda moved onto wild chicken turf really; they had been foraging through our property since before we moved in. I'll probably let these two come and go as they please. They don't want to be cooped and theres certainly no keeping them away... not even my chicken-crazed dogs have been successful at chasing them off. I'll certainly continue to keep an eye on the health of my main flock.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

I'd say gamefowl crossed with some kind of featherlegged bantam. What cuties! Definitely be sure to check them for lice, mites, and worms. I'd usually suggest quarantine but since they're already in with the the flock, a bit late for that. But they do look quite healthy from these photos.

I agree.