Barred Rock question

[flyladyrocks]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone can help -at what age range will Barred Rocks start to look like Barred Rocks? I ask b/c 4 of my chicks were supposedly Barred Rocks. 2 most definitely are, no doubt. But the other two's feathers have not changed yet. They are 2 weeks old tomorrow. Queen Elizabeth is a week older and her feathers were evident at about 1 1/2 weeks, Rose, overnight Sunday night changed which was amazing (she 2 weeks tomorrow). Went to bed with her looking one way and woke up and said "Hey You are a Barred Rock!".

So being impatient and obsessed with trying to figure out what all my chicks are, I am wondering how long it could take for them to look like Barred Rocks if they are.

Clara and Nina, my unknowns have black heads and backs, white tummies with grey around their necks and shoulders. They look like they are wearing these cute grey fuzzy muffs around their necks right now. Until their grey muffs grew out they looked like they were wearing little tuxedos. Their wing feathers are black with a row at the end/underneath that are pure white. This is what Rose looked like until we woke up yesterday. So far I've been told if they are not Barred Rocks then Jersey Giant, Black Australorp and Black Orpington are all possibilities but it is too early to tell.

Got two other unknowns too, doubting my Rhoda and Rhonda are Rhode Island Reds, I think they are probably too light, but once again probably need to wait a little longer b4 we can know for sure. I am just Impatient and want to know! Not that it even matters b/c it is not like we will get rid of them (well, unless there is a roo in the bunch and our testy neighbor freaks aver the crowing then we will have too sadly find him a new home).

I am not sure it is even worth posting pics until hey are a little older, but I thought if someone could say they start to get their Barred Rock coloring between XX and XX that might help my impatience a little!

Thanks!

P.S. someone needs to come up with a Chicken spell check since regular spell check does not like Chicken breed names!

 

[devo52]

Some of my barred's did not show the white specs until almost 4 weeks and sone were spotted at 2 weeks send some pics of your rocks and I will take a look at them. Some mature faster and feather out faster than others

 

[donrae]

Pictures would help a lot.

All barred rock chicks have a white/cream colored spot on their head when hatched. If your chick had a head spot, they're barred (or cuckoo). If they have solid heads, they're some other black bird, Australorp being the far most common.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Thanks for the responses - we are having computer problems and I am having trouble posting - and even more problems trying to include a picture, so I will hold off on the pics until we get the computer straightened out (I got some good pics of some really happy birds out in the run today!). But, if Barred Rocks have the white/cream head spot then Nina and Clara are not Barred Rocks - no spot just black. Queen Elizabeth and Rose both had the white spot and they are the ones feathering out to look like Barred Rocks.

Here's hoping this will post! Thanks again!

 

[Mister B]

My BR chick is about 4 weeks and it is just starting to have some BR stripes. I had one last year that was 5 weeks and was solid black except a white puff on its head. It later got the stripes, but sometimes I guess it takes a while.