Barred Rock color differences in 4 week olds

[Galaxiedriver]

We have 11 four week old barred rocks and one of them is displaying very different colors than the others. The lighter colored one, we are calling it Rocky thinking it is a rooster because of his rapidly developing comb, is much whiter than black, and has yellow legs compared to the darker legs of the darker ones. See photos. They are from Griffith Hatchery and were hatched the same day.

So, can someone shed light on the color differences and comb development of Rocky and Rockette?

We are new here and are just curious.

Thanks

 

[speckledhen]

The top one is male, however, he has very odd barring for a pure BR. Where did you get him? Oops, I just saw that. Where is Griffith Hatchery? Never heard of it. He is awfully splotchy for a BR.

Cockerels are usually lighter than the pullets in this breed.

 

[Galaxiedriver]

Cynthia,

What clues tell you he is male? I am guessing that by his comb.

 

[beefy]

the first one is male. and definitely doesnt have normal barring for a purebred barred rock. it almost looks like it has a little bit of a crest? and a line thru the eye? weird.

 

[speckledhen]

The lighter color (though I'd almost not call it barring even), the yellow legs with no dark down the fronts and the comb, of course, all say cockerel. I have raised BRs for several years now and sometimes they fool you, but not very often.

 

[speckledhen]

Here are some of mine as youngsters, the cockerel first, then the pullet. These are about 8 weeks old here.

 

[Galaxiedriver]

Griffith Hatchery is in Fulton, Missouri, about 20 miles from us here in Columbia. We were not looking for pure breds or anything like that yet, just some good layers so we got 11 RIR and 11 BRs from them.

They were very nice and all our birds are very healthy and lively. Going on 5 weeks into this little project we are quite happy with them.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Rocky is awesome

 

[Galaxiedriver]

Quote:
He fer sure is boss of the coop even at his young age.

Thank you all for your responses.

Here is a photo of our new coop I am just finishing up. We moved the young'ns in just this weekend.

 

[threehorses]

I wonder if a dilute gene would do this to his barring? Probably it's just a genetic fluke.

In all cases the barring should be a little more clear like Speckledhen's barred rocks. If not for the straight comb, I'd wonder a little if these weren't dominiques as their "barring" looks a little more like cuckoo feathering than barring.

Curious indeed!