Dominique Barring vs. Barred Rock

[Candice Jones]

Hey guys,
I purchased 5 Dominiques a few weeks back with some Wyandotte and Faverolle chicks. These Doms have quickly become my favorite to visit with. I have my suspicions as to sex, because of their yellow dots on their heads earlier. But I have two in particular that are feathering out darker than the others. Pics for reference. I also have one of the darker barred ones developing a single comb, instead of rose comb. Could a Barred Rock have been included in my order? Or is this Dom just not SOP correct? Thanks in Advanced

Here is on of the dark barred Dom compared to Faverolle rooster, 2 of the Noms have this dark coloring.

Compared to this Dom, whose Barring is more distinct. Three of them have this coloring.

Do I have a barred rock instead of Dominique?

Compared to the rose comb on this dark barred Dom

 

[debid]

Two females (dark), 3 cockerels (light). Forget head spots, the barring tells the tale at this point.

Having an occasional single comb pop up in a Dominique breeding program isn't unusual. It doesn't make it a barred Rock, just not SOP.

 

[Candice Jones]

Debid, This was exactly what I was thinking. Thank you for confirming. Does this mean I should leave the single comb lady out of the breeding program? How likely is it for her to pass on this trait?

 

[debid]

If she had a rose comb gene, it would show because rose is dominant. Whether to breed her or not depends on your goals. I can tell you that single combed individuals are sometimes used to revitalize fertility (males pure for rose tend to have reduced fertility). But yes, she's going to pass along her trait even if it doesn't show in the first generation.

 

[Candice Jones]

This helps a lot. Thanks again!!

 

[kristip]

Have you found in newly hatched chicks the bigger head dot theory for Roosters? Also what is ideal leg color... thanks

 

[drumstick diva]

I think Doms have dark legs, BR have yellow ( males) and yellow with dark wash (girls).
The single combed chick does look like a BR to me.

 

[speckledhen]

Have you found in newly hatched chicks the bigger head dot theory for Roosters? Also what is ideal leg color... thanks

It's not a "bigger" head spot, it's whether it has more defined edges or has scattered parts with "frosting" around the back of the head and into the neck area. Many cockerels have small head spots, but if you look closely, you'll see the frosting, as I call it.

In my heritage line, especially my best one, they are very hard to sex by head spot, with almost a reverse type pattern for male/female. Very dark wash down leg front is always a pullet, but some males have a little bit of scattered/sketchy wash as well. Never take just one trait to sex a barred chick, but combine head spot with leg color with down color (super black-black down is pullet, silvery-grayish black is cockerel).

Proper leg color for a Dom or Rock is yellow, but pullets will have some dark wash down the front with males a more clean yellow color.

 

[speckledhen]

This is a cockerel (he is my Atlas, actually, almost 4 yrs old now) as a youngster. You see the head spot is small, however, he has that frosting around the back that you almost miss. As you gain experience, you'll be able to better sex them at a glance, then, there will be those that fool you for awhile, too.