12 weeks old, no comb?

[Mosey2003]

I would say the barred one is a pullet, actually. She's very dark.

I'm gonna guess this farm probably has at least one barred rooster and one barred hen, and at least one red rooster. A barred rooster over a non-barred female or a barred female will give you that barred bird you have, possible/probable from a Dominique. A red rooster over a barred hen will give you that black one you have, looks like a black sexlink pullet. And then the white one resembles a Delaware, which were developed from Barred Rocks.

Anyway, a nice dual purpose mixture you have there

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I would say the barred one is a pullet, actually. She's very dark.

I'm gonna guess this farm probably has at least one barred rooster and one barred hen, and at least one red rooster. A barred rooster over a non-barred female or a barred female will give you that barred bird you have, possible/probable from a Dominique. A red rooster over a barred hen will give you that black one you have, looks like a black sexlink pullet. And then the white one resembles a Delaware, which were developed from Barred Rocks.

Anyway, a nice dual purpose mixture you have there

The thing is, the mix you explain only passes on one barred gene to male offspring from a barred female and solid male. When this happens, with only one barred gene, the dark or light of the barring doesn't matter, as just like a female, the make will only have one barring gene.

 

[Mosey2003]

The thing is, the mix you explain only passes on one barred gene to male offspring from a barred female and solid male. When this happens, with only one barred gene, the dark or light of the barring doesn't matter, as just like a female, the make will only have one barring gene.

Exactly. Considering this bird pictured is clearly dark, the most likely scenario is that it was a barred hen and a barred rooster, with one of them like a Dominique due to comb. Most of the mixed breed barred males I've seen are still lighter than the females. I learned that the hard way being swindled into male black sexlinks, and that cross only has one barred gene.
I mean, I'm not saying I'm perfect and that bird might be male after all, but it doesn't look especially male to me for its age.

 

[Mosey2003]

More/better pictures would help, of course

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Exactly. Considering this bird pictured is clearly dark, the most likely scenario is that it was a barred hen and a barred rooster, with one of them like a Dominique due to comb. Most of the mixed breed barred males I've seen are still lighter than the females. I learned that the hard way being swindled into male black sexlinks, and that cross only has one barred gene.
I mean, I'm not saying I'm perfect and that bird might be male after all, but it doesn't look especially male to me for its age.

Actually, I'm saying its the opposite. The likelihood to me is that this is a cockerel of a solid male out of a barred female. He's so dark because he only has one barring gene, from his mother.

 

[Mosey2003]

Actually, I'm saying its the opposite. The likelihood to me is that this is a cockerel of a solid male out of a barred female. He's so dark because he only has one barring gene, from his mother.

That could be, yes. I guess I hadn't really thought it through.

 

[Courtney Jane]

Been chasing the chickens around all morning! This is the best I could get ;p

 

[Mosey2003]

I say all pullets.

 

[Courtney Jane]

I say all pullets.

I hope you’re right! Would break my heart to have to give them away. I can’t keep roosters where I live.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I'd say post back in a couple of weeks. This way we can all figure it out for sure.

ETA: For politeness. Its too early, without enough coffee.