Orpington... but what color?

bountyofbantams

Chirping
Sep 28, 2024
57
71
69
Florida
I bought 5 baby "buff" orpingtons almost 2 months ago, 2 of which died almost instantly. 1 of the 3 that were left was actually buff but another one is completely baffling me, the more he feathers out the more I think hes jubilee but I'm not sure. I'd like some opinions so I can figure out what my baby Thor is ☺️
 

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Also, this chick grew way faster than all the other orpington chicks. Hes twice their size and feathered out way more. The 2nd orpington I have right now is starting to feather out red.
 
My Jubilee has dark chocolate feathers, so I don’t think he’s that :).
Jubilee can be lighter in color at the start with the red often darkening as they age and more white showing up with each molt. My jubilee started lighter with minimal white and each year her feathers grow in a darker mahogany with more white spots.
 
Jubilee can be lighter in color at the start with the red often darkening as they age and more white showing up with each molt. My jubilee started lighter with minimal white and each year her feathers grow in a darker mahogany with more white spots.
Good to know, mine was chocolate from the day she hatched so I figured they’re all like that.
 
Both the parents are english red orpingtons though which is why I'm confused.. I've seen the parents in person and they're the only ones in the coop, is that even possible?
Yes. It is possible to carry a dominate gene that shows, but carry recessive gene that pops up at times in offspring. It is like two people with brown eyes having a child with blue eyes. The parents could both be Bb where they have brown eyes, but carry blue resulting in a child that inherits both genes bb. It’s a much simpler explanation than writing out the genetics for chicken colors, but essentially similar.
 
Could be mottled. Mottling is recessive, so it could be carried unknowingly by both parents. It'll be interesting to see if the white spots stay or if they molt out
 

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