Anyone show Barred Rocks?

[tx_dane_mom]

I am looking to ask some questions about BRs. Are the hens traditionally 'darker' in appearance than the males? I get that the bars are supposed to be equal, and my current 4 cockrels look amazing (IMO) but all my hens have from the get go have always been darker. Wonder if that's normal. I'd like to take pix of them & have them evaluated, if someone would, and see which of the 2 is actually correct. They are all out of show stock.
I appreciate it.
Kristi

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, the hens are darker because the white parts are not as wide as the barring on the roosters. That's one way to sex them, the darker ones being female. Most of us own hatchery stock BRs, I think, myself included, but one day I hope to get some eggs from a good breeder to improve the barring. Here's an example from my flock, although I dont have the cockerel anymore:

 

[Kanchii]

Here is our barred rock, Rocky (so original) who got best American at our first fair. I saw on your website that you're thinking of selling barred rock eggs in the spring, could you post some pictures of your birds? I might be interested.

 

[tx_dane_mom]

I will have to take pix of my guys tomorrow and post them. My oldest ones are only 9.5 weeks old, but I think I have some that might be worth showing. There is a cockrel that I picked out at 3 weeks old as my 'pick' just for fun, only using my basic animal knowlege from dogs, and believe it or not, with what I have been reading, I think he IS turning out really nice. Of course, we'll have to see in another 3-4 mnths. But his barring, particularly in his tail feathers is perfectly even. My girls look decent too, it's just easier to spot in the boys since it's so wide spread.
Thanks for the response. I will try & remember to get up some pix tomorrow although it is 'designated CLEAN the house day'

Kristi

 

[tx_dane_mom]

God, I don't want to be rude and 'pick apart' your birds, but SpeckledHen....your roo...isn't his 'white' too prominant, where as the hen, her black is- although, she is the 'more' correct of the 2?
Would that be correct? I am asking to learn, not to be rude.
Kristi

 

[Bubba]

The reason behind it is Males get BB while females only get B_. B = Barring Gene.


http://home.earthlink.net/~100chickens/id56.html
http://www.gfhev.de/abstracts_kongresse/2005Abstracts.pdf
http://www.gnxp.com/
http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/168/3/1507
http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/175/2/867
Are some good reading if you want to get more indepth views of genetics. If you burn through those and require more reading PM me.


Bubba

 

[speckledhen]

Actually, Barred Rock males are almost always much lighter than the females. That is one way to sex them. I can tell in the brooder which are boys and which are girls-the boys even with just their down, look silvery and lighter than the girls. They do not look the same for the reason that Bubba stated. Remember, too, I said these are hatchery Barred Rocks and he is actually a nice example of a hatchery BR. These are not show quality BRs, but even if they were, the barring on the show quality birds is more evenly spaced and straight across, but the males are still lighter because their bars are wider.
Here is my main flock rooster, an older Barred Rock, whose barring isnt as good as the younger cockerel's I posted, but you can see, same thing, lighter color than the girls:

I also have a hen who has a cockerel's coloring-she was thought to be a cockerel till almost 12 weeks old because of it. Here she is on the right:

 

[helmstead]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you have on your hands, there, Dane! I have hatchery Barred Rocks, too. Just as has already been stated, the roosters will look almost silvery because the white bars are wider than the black. Hens are more 50/50 and therefore appear the perfect yin yang. Here is a picture of my roo, Mister - who has different barring than Hawkeye, but appealing nonetheless - and one of my hens.

 

[helmstead]

It occured to me that a side by side might be helpful...

 

[herechickchick]

That is the cutest picture.