Barred Rock Roo & Black Sex Link Hen?

[samantha88]

Any guesses as to breeds?

 

[donrae]

White spot on the head simply means the chick has at least one barring gene. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a barred Rock, there are other barred breeds as well as mixes like your guy with the gold.

When you correctly breed sex links, the sex is linked to the color. In black sex links, that means the males are barred, so they have a white spot on the head at hatch. The females are not barred, so they have solid dark heads. It's a moot point for you in this case, as you weren't breeding any cross that would result in sex links.

If you are positive that gold chick is male, I can tell you I'm pretty sure he was the mixed rooster (with the gold leakage) over one of your sex link hens. My guess is he will mature a reddish gold color.

 

[Fred's Hens]

"Pure" in chickens is far different than in dogs or cattle or horses. There, a stud book or lineage is kept proving bloodlines. In chickens, and this is THE most difficult thing for folks to grasp sometimes, "pure" has almost nothing to do with genotype or the genes, but rather the phenotype, meaning the "type" we see with our eyes.

Our eyes cannot see the background genetics, Only test matings can discover what genetics are hiding deep down in a bird.

In North America, the oldest livestock sanctioning organization is the APA and it is the sanctioning body for determined accepted breeds and a "standard" or detailed description written for each breed.

To declare a bird a "pure" example of a breed means it is a good example of breed's descriptive standard. 99% of the good folks here have never read the various breed's descriptions or standards. They just look at the "color" or pattern and declare birds to be this or that "breed". These appellations are seldom very accurate, but such is life.

The second cockerel you show would likely be "said" to be a Barred Rock, but he is far from being "pure" in the sense of being bred to well display the breed.

Now, ALL CHICKENS are gallus gallus domesticus. They're all the same species and they have ZERO idea they are any breed whatsoever. They're chickens. If they serve your needs and you're happy with them that is all that counts.

 

[Old Rando]

So if I am understanding correctly, the spot on the head means it's a BR? I also thought sex link chicks also had a spot on their head.

The spot on the head indicates the chick has the barring gene regardless of the breed or cross.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Lots of birds hatch with head spots.
Yes, Barred Rock typically have head spots. But….

Black sex links, which are not Barred Rocks but mixed crosses, have head spots on male chicks.

But again, there are other "head spot" birds. Not an exclusive indicator of being Barred Rock at all. Sorry.

 

[samantha88]

This is all so interesting! Thank you for answering my questions!