Barred rock X, sexing

[Cheerful]

Let a broody hatch some eggs this spring - 6 little chicks! Our rooster is Barred rock. Some of our hens are two of my hens are buff orpingtons, one is a black australorp. (and then I added two other eggs from a friend...) The four chicks from our hens are all mostly black - looking very like barred rocks! In fact, I'm not sure I'd even be able to pick them out as different from true barred rocks. My question (sorry if this is stupid!) : does this mean anything about the likelyhood of them being male or female? Guessing this can't be right but just wondering if they turn out looking more like dad, does that mean that some gene that is connected with colouring might also be connected with sex? Hope all four of them aren't roos. (when we raised chicks we bought last year we got 7 roosters in a batch of 10 chicks....unlucky!) Anyway, just curious about the science and sorry if it is a really stupid question! Thanks!

 

[Bill Matthews]

Your Barred RockXBuff Orpington cross will be barred..You can probably tell the difference from your Rocks by the lighter and grayer shades of barring in the crossbreds feathers once they are mature...Your Barred Rockswill have more definite barring distinctions, the crosses more silver bleeding into the general plumage...Yes, they'll look like their sires....These cross is not auto sexing....The others? Who knows....Enjoy them and good luck...I think the RockXOrpington crosses will be beautiful birds...

 

[Cheerful]

thanks! good to know!