Barred crossbreed

[donrae]

You can sex those chicks as soon as they're dry. The males will have a white/cream head spot, this is linked to the barring gene. Females will have a solid dark head.

whoops, sorry. You said the Cornish hen hatched the eggs....if they're hers, you'll have to wait. I was still thinking of the Cornish rooster over the barred Rock hens. Brain Fart

.

I agree the black sex link (your little barred cockerel) roosters make fun backyard breeders. I had one for about 4 years and loved his babies. They throw half barred, half non-barred chicks regardless of gender. A lot of black, but since they have the genes from the other parent (and in your case, some lacing from the Cornish), you can get some fun funky patterns in the offspring chicks.

 

[krehh5]

@junebuggena Those are some good looking birds!! I'm in love with our 2 EE's their coloring is really something!

@donrae The new babies are the only chicks whose mother I know for 100% the rest have been a guessing game! I'm not even positive the 2 older black ones came from a BR, we have a dark brahma and 2 EE's too. We came in to a mix of chicks last year and I love the variety but the waiting game to figure out their babies' genders and adult coloring is killing me! Lolol

I love the lacing, I hope her babies get it too!

 

[junebuggena]

Unless the Easter Eggers are black, the black chicks are from the Barred Rocks, and are female. Dark Brahmas are silver-base color partridge. It's one of the more recessive patterns. The extended black pattern of the Barred Rock is dominant to just about everything. Think of it this way, they are a solid black bird. The barring gene applies stripes on top of the solid black 'pattern'.