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completely black "barred rock"?

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post #1 of 4

7/9/12 at 3:45pm

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LAFreewayChickens

Location: San Diego (goodbye LA)
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I have two chicks that hatched from "barred rock" hatching eggs. One is completely jet black (no head spot - nothing). The other had a diffuse head spot, is lighter and is clearly barred. They are now two weeks old. I'm guessing that their daddy was not a barred roo, and they are therefore sex links. The all black one is presumably a female and the barred one a male. Does that sound about right? (Or has anyone ever had a barred rock that was still not barred at two weeks?

So can I stop telling my kids we shouldn't name her Midnight because she will eventually start barring?

I'm the boss chicken. My flock includes Black Stars/Sexlinks, Black Australorps, Crested Cream Legbars, Delawares, and Barred Rocks; as well as two daughters, and a wonderful garden-loving wife. RIP: Pumpkin & Banana (ISA Brown hens)

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post #2 of 4

7/9/12 at 8:56pm

questions543

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pictures would help but was the chick COMPLETY black without any whit on chest or any part?

happy dad of a GSP and a BLRW and FBCM and a WL and a BR and a BA and a SS and an EE and a GLC

post #3 of 4

7/9/12 at 9:13pm

donrae

Location: Southern Oregon
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They could be sex links, but you really can't know unless you can find out more info form the seller. The chicks could have different sires, maybe one was barred and one wasn't. Unless you know absolutely the momma was a barred rock, all bets are off.

But no, your solid bird isn't going to develop barring. All barred birds will have the head spot on hatch and barring shows up when they first feather in.

Rachel BB

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

Rachel BB

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

post #4 of 4

7/11/12 at 5:02pm

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LAFreewayChickens

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The black one is COMPLETELY black, no white anywhere. You might call the down on its butt and belly charcoal gray. But all it's baby down is a bit lighter now than its true feathers. She has jet black legs.

I tend to trust that the seller knew what the hens where, I suspect maybe a different rooster got in with them. It is possible the boy is a full BR and the girl is some kind of sex link (assuming they both come from BR mommas).

Anyway, given the lack of both a head spot and barring, we can be sure the black one is not a BR. It seems likely to me she is some sort of sex linked cross, but this is not certain.