Yes, that black with red leakage in the front is classic red-based black sexlink coloring. What do the males look like from wheaten crosses? Just out of curiosity.
I did Buff Orpington over Barred Rock, which should be similar as far as coloring goes. You get a LOT more color on them because black doesn't restrict buff near as much as red.
They're a black sexlink, yes. They aren't that old yet, so I can't say when they'll be spent. She said they started laying early and often though. That's about all I know, I sold them to my former riding instructor.
I'm pretty sure you can use anything that presents as barred/cuckoo because the hen will always pass on barring to male chicks.
I used a Buff Orpington over Barred Rocks and they were still easy to sex by sight on hatch, females were either all black or had just a bit of red on their face, the...
That's what I was thinking, that guaranteed pullets will be my selling point, and good layers a plus. I really want to see what they look like from the heritage Rocks, too. It's just kind of a pet project. Hope to sell enough chicks to cover feed, which should be feasible since I ferment.
My Buff Orp trio are breeder birds, and a mixture of American and English lines. Very big, fluffy, gentle birds. My current Rocks were bought from someone as 4 month old pullets that said his friend bred them, but I assume they are pretty much standard hatchery fare. Decent birds, but not...
So my Buff crosses aren't going to be as productive... Would they still be considered 'good' layers, do you think? Hmmm..... I can get a heritage NH Red cockerel to go with the heritage Barred Rocks I'm incubating. I just don't know if I'm ready to give up my pretty Buffs yet or not :( But...
Can anyone explain why the NH Red is preferred for black sexlinks? Someone told me recently that using my Buff Orpington rooster is not nearly as good. Opinions? Anywhere I can read more?
I know, but it's such a small amount, it has me wondering. Most of the other males are very yellow, with yellow/pink legs, and the mostly black or black/red chicks have black legs. Wondering if that's significant.
I got the Rocks second-hand, so I can't say for sure they're pure, though they are marked appropriately.
I know that buff covers more black than red, so the adults will have more gold on them than a standard black sexlink would have red.
The one dark one in the picture has noticeably redder...
So, I have managed to hatch out 15 chicks (so far) from my Buff Orpington rooster over Barred Rock hens. I got chicks with very yellow faces and heads, and then some that appear mostly black, but can see a darker red face. I assume the yellow are cockerels? What's throwing me off is some of...