Are green feathers normal in barred rock roos?

[Kat2141]

I have 3 cockerels that I thought were "black sex link". The backyard farm I got the dozen eggs from said they had barred rock hens (along with BO's and RIR's) and a black Langshan rooster and a golden laced Brahma. These three were black with white spots on their heads and white butts when they hatched. They started getting spots and so I thought they were basically the barred rock. Now, I see some green feathers coming in. I'm looking forward to seeing how they are going to look as they mature. Any thoughts? Is it just the barred rock/Langshan cross or are they actually something different?

The pic of the black one is from the dozen eggs too (and I got several pullets that look like him). Also have 2 that are a coppery color with black. All of them are pretty, even if they are crosses. BTW, they are 13 weeks old. It's funny - as new chicks, they looked alike - black with white on the faces and butts, and the 3 with a white spot on the head... but now 7 are black, with no white; 3 are barred and the other 2 are copper and black but no white.

 

[DesertBird]

Looks normal to me; I've seen some with and some without (although unsure if they were pure BR's), but I haven't personally owned a BR rooster.

 

[Kat2141]

Thanks. My other girls are red sex links and they changed a little as they matured but not like this group is doing. So I'm enjoying seeing how these are changing colors so drastically.

 

[Seaecho]

I love it when different black breeds get that slightly green sheen like the last picture. I think it's really attractive. One of my mottled bantam cochin pullets has that too, and it's truly beautiful when the sun hits it just right.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Oh.... my BR Roo had the prettiest teal blue feathers in his tail just gorgeous! Too bad he was a monster and had to go! Love your pictures

 

[DesertBird]

Thanks. My other girls are red sex links and they changed a little as they matured but not like this group is doing. So I'm enjoying seeing how these are changing colors so drastically.

Haha, yeah, I get that. I've seen some odd color variations - I have a RIR hen who has the same dark coloring as a rooster, if not a bit darker. Sometimes they just look a little different. His feathers look gorgeous with the green!

 

[Kat2141]

Oh.... my BR Roo had the prettiest teal blue feathers in his tail just gorgeous! Too bad he was a monster and had to go! Love your pictures

So far these guys are fine but I know some will have to go, one way or another... i have 5 guys growing up and definitely don't have room for that many. Hopefully their attitudes will stay nice and I can just find new homes for them.

 

[Kat2141]

I love it when different black breeds get that slightly green sheen like the last picture. I think it's really attractive. One of my mottled bantam cochin pullets has that too, and it's truly beautiful when the sun hits it just right.

At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the green is coming out more as time goes on. i really like it too.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Any black on any bird will sheen green or purple or blue or teal... that's what black feathers does.

That said, I don't think those are BR. I see feathered legs on the barred and the black bird. They may be marans or marans crosses.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have personal witnessed them in Tail Feathers with my boys.