Dominique? Is it a barred rock or not?

[Rhodebar Lover]

Yep looks like a roo.

Tail feathers are not indicative of gender at this age. It's a pullet

 

[Painted Calls]

Tail feathers are not indicative of gender at this age. It's a pullet

Agreed. I see zero male traits.

 

[McChooky]

Ta

Tail feathers are not indicative of gender at this age. It's a pullet

Thank you so much! I don't really need a rooster in my little flock of 6!

 

[McChooky]

Tail feathers are not indicative of gender at this age. It's a pullet

Yes thank you! Great relief too! LOL

 

[Floof]

Tail feathers are not indicative of gender at this age. It's a pullet

They aren't indicative at 18 weeks old? That has not been my experience...

 

[Painted Calls]

The bird in question has no male specific feathering. A wonky tail at 18 weeks old doesn't mean much. Some EE pullets keep a wonky tail their entire life.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

They aren't indicative at 18 weeks old? That has not been my experience...

Pointed saddle feathers feathers come in long before the sickles do making it a trait best not to go off. This bird has no pointed feathers to speak of. Many pullets have curved tail feathers as well. @Overo Mare can testify with me on this, but there are SO many questions on this forum relating to curved tail feathers on pullets that the owners freak out and question their genders. I can't think of a situation where it would ever mean much at all except *perhaps* in hen-feathered breeds but still then, combs would be the a significantly earlier and more accurate indicator

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Here is a pair of young Brahmas the same age. Going off of tails the first would be a cockerel and second a pullet, but if you check the actual shape of the saddles you would realize the gender is the exact opposite There are countless other examples of similar situations too

 

[NatJ]

While I've read Dominiques could have a rose or a straight comb originally I know the standard has been a rose comb for a very long time.So what are the odds of getting a Dominique with a single comb now and why does it still occur?

Short answer: genetics.

For any rose comb breed, it's moderately common to get single comb birds on occasion.
Rose comb is dominant, so a bird can look correct (have a rose comb), but carry the gene for not-rose, and there is no way to tell by looking at the chicken.

When someone breeds two chickens who have rose combs, but carry the gene for not-rose, then about 1/4 of the chicks will have single combs (not-rose), 1/4 will be pure for rose comb, and the other 1/2 of the chicks will show a rose comb but carry the gene for not-rose.

There are ways to get a flock that really is pure for rose comb, but it's difficult.

And just to make it even harder, roosters who are pure for rose comb tend to be less fertile than ones that carry the gene for not-rose. So any rooster with the unwanted gene (not-rose) tends to sire more than his share of the chicks, and passes on his not-rose gene to plenty of them.

 

[McChooky]

Short answer: genetics.

For any rose comb breed, it's moderately common to get single comb birds on occasion.
Rose comb is dominant, so a bird can look correct (have a rose comb), but carry the gene for not-rose, and there is no way to tell by looking at the chicken.

When someone breeds two chickens who have rose combs, but carry the gene for not-rose, then about 1/4 of the chicks will have single combs (not-rose), 1/4 will be pure for rose comb, and the other 1/2 of the chicks will show a rose comb but carry the gene for not-rose.

There are ways to get a flock that really is pure for rose comb, but it's difficult.

And just to make it even harder, roosters who are pure for rose comb tend to be less fertile than ones that carry the gene for not-rose. So any rooster with the unwanted gene (not-rose) tends to sire more than his share of the chicks, and passes on his not-rose gene to plenty of them.

I appreciate the detailed explanation above ! It's helpful knowing I could get straight comb chicks if any of my Dominiques carry the gene (being hatchery stock they probably would) Now you've got me wondering if Barred Rocks could have chicks that look like Dominiques.