Barred rooster over NH red hens

[donrae]

Sorry, your rooster isn't a pure barred rock, and your chicks aren't Delawares. Mixed breed birds can often look like a breed, but they're still mixed breed birds. I have never had a Delaware, but I've had folks swear this bird is one, just poorly colored. She's not, just a mixed bird with barred heritage.



I've also never had an Australorp, but have several black hens from my mixed breeding. I could probably sell them as Aussies, but they're not, they're just mixed breed birds who happen to look like a common breed.

 

[jaj121159]

According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, <a href="http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/delaware.html"> Delawares</a>, originally called “Indian Rivers,” were developed by George Ellis of Delaware in 1940 and were used for the production of broilers. The breed originated from crosses of Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens. A few off-colored sports were produced that were almost white with black barring on the hackles, primaries, secondaries, and tail. This coloration is very similar to the Colombian color pattern, but with the barring substituting for the black sections.

When you cross a Delaware rooster with a New Hampshire or Rhode Island Red hen you end up with a bird that looks like a Delaware and are now called Indian Rivers. Probably what happened with Cbell1536. New Hampshire were originally called New Hampshire Reds, but the "Red" was dropped when admitted to the APA.