Barred Chicken Genetics

[The Moonshiner]

Don't know myself because IDK the bird. I'd bet it isn't from the states though.
If I had to guess id says its cuckoo but its from somewhere where theyve had generations to work on the pattern.
You can look at show barred rocks vs hatchery BR and see what a difference it can make when youve concentrated you're efforts on improving the pattern.
Ive seen cuckoo that looked cleaner and crisper then some barring.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

But unless your crossing breeds you don't have to worry about it and if you are you're not setting a line.
I have leghorns so theyre cuckoo. I can't ever encounter barred as a pattern because theres no slow feathering genes in leghorns.
I don't see it as a gene being not technically the same.
Its the same gene just expressed differently.

Correct that it is the same gene (depigmentation) for barring/cuckoo (which I stated) but shows differently due to co-factors...slow or fast feathering genetics....don't think we are saying anything differently.

I'm not familiar enough with breeding Silkie to know if there is a true slow feathering barred vs. a faster feathering cuckoo, but you wouldn't want to mix those lines if there are if you are trying to get to one standard. You are mixing your slow feathering and fast feathering...you could end up with feather sexable chicks if done right ...but I should think that would hinder your clean-ness in barring or cuckooing for a number of generations making it harder to breed for one quality.

I know with my Barnvelders I don't want to mix muddy line lacing with clean line lacing. I always choose for the best to the best to keep my patterns clean.

Just my experiences and thoughts.
LofMc