Are These Barred Rocks Purebred?

[skullgrrrl]

Are these Barred Rocks purebred or crosses? The reason I ask is their legs aren't solid yellow. What should I be looking for to confirm if they are purebred or not?

 

[Alexandra33]

They appear to be pure Barred Rock, simply hatchery quality.

~Alex

 

[drumstick diva]

agree - look like hatchery BR's not up to standard for show but purebred

 

[HNB23]

The hens will have darker legs and the roos brighter. That's 1 way to tell them apart. Another way being the roos have an extra barring gene so they'll have more white feathering.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

so they'll have more white feathering.

It's true that SOMETIMES the hens have dark washed legs and the cocks don't.

And to elaborate on your "more" white feathers... the white bars will be wider than the black bars on stags, giving them an appearance more like a white bird with black stripes. (even this is sometimes questionable in hatchery stock)

In order to determine if they are pure or not... you can look at other parts of the standard... Aside from shank color, you can tell actual skin color by looking at the bottom of the feet on most chickens. You will consider their eye color, lobe color, comb type, feather pattern, body type, clean or feathered shanks, clean or bearded face, even what color eggs they lay.

Those appear to be barred rock pullets. The stripes are a questionable way to tell (since quality varies so widely). But their comb and waddle development in addition to no pointy saddle feathers are very good indicators.

Please note that even pure bred birds will pop up with things not present (rather hidden) in their parent stock. Even when hatching from show quality not all off spring (or not even half) will hatch with that same show quality. Hope this helpful.

I actually love barred Rocks!

 

[Jase The Butcher]

They are pure bred, but not show quality.

 

[featherhead007]

BR's are great egg layers though!

 

[HNB23]

It's true that SOMETIMES the hens have dark washed legs and the cocks don't.

And to elaborate on your "more" white feathers... the white bars will be wider than the black bars on stags, giving them an appearance more like a white bird with black stripes. (even this is sometimes questionable in hatchery stock)

In order to determine if they are pure or not... you can look at other parts of the standard... Aside from shank color, you can tell actual skin color by looking at the bottom of the feet on most chickens. You will consider their eye color, lobe color, comb type, feather pattern, body type, clean or feathered shanks, clean or bearded face, even what color eggs they lay.

Those appear to be barred rock pullets. The stripes are a questionable way to tell (since quality varies so widely). But their comb and waddle development in addition to no pointy saddle feathers are very good indicators.

Please note that even pure bred birds will pop up with things not present (rather hidden) in their parent stock. Even when hatching from show quality not all off spring (or not even half) will hatch with that same show quality. Hope this helpful.

I actually love barred Rocks!

Oh thanks for the elaboration on exactly what I said.