3 week Barred Rock

[WingItRanch]

To be able to sex by the head spot when breeding barred to barred parents it has to be consistently bred for that trait and most hatcheries do not anymore. Every barred rock pullet I have had over the past few years had a large head spot with a good bit of white on their neck as chicks until they fully feathered out. You can’t tell by the chick down with hatchery stock it’s simply not consistent. Now from a quality breeder that is a different story.

Ah. Thanks for the explanation. So you're saying this method is out of date because the average Plymouth Barred Rock is not bred to SOP? I have noticed quite a few pictures lately of Barred Rocks with pale legs so it had me questioning if they were even the correct breed.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Ah. Thanks for the explanation. So you're saying this method is out of date because the average Plymouth Barred Rock is not bred to SOP? I have noticed quite a few pictures lately of Barred Rocks with pale legs so it had me questioning if they were even the correct breed.

Yes, most hatchery stock is loosely* bred to standard. Certain hatcheries are better than others, but at the end of the day hatchery stock is hatchery quality at best.

 

[LB0002]

I'd love if you could update this post in a few weeks once she's fully feathered. It would be a good learning experience because her comb and legs do contradict on light colored she is.

I absolutely will! I have learned a lot and appreciate these forums.

 

[LB0002]

For rwference, this is what she looked like ~2 weeks

 

[LB0002]

And she is one of the 2 on the bottom here (left) around 1 week. The other is a Cukoo Maran.

 

[LB0002]

To be able to sex by the head spot when breeding barred to barred parents it has to be consistently bred for that trait and most hatcheries do not anymore. Every barred rock pullet I have had over the past few years had a large head spot with a good bit of white on their neck as chicks until they fully feathered out. You can’t tell by the chick down with hatchery stock it’s simply not consistent. Now from a quality breeder that is a different story.

My first 4 chicks were from a local farm, but not a fancy breeder.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

My first 4 chicks were from a local farm, but not a fancy breeder.

Unless they say they are breeding to standard or for quality they most likely are not breeding for auto sexing traits. Especially if they only offer straight run chicks. I will be honest, backyard breeders can be worse than hatchery quality.