Is there such a breed?

[iajewel]

Does anyone know if a breed exists that is like a Barred Rock, only the feathers are gold (buff) and black rather then white and black?

I have been working on that in my own flock, and wondered if someone has already done it? Would save me allot of time.

 

[onthespot]

they have lemon cuckoos in England, said to be from crossing cuckoo marans on buff orpingtons. They are a "hot item" lately, sell for a lot over there.

 

[BamaChicken]

I believe the color is called Lemon Cuckoo. I have seen the color in UK breeds such as Orpingtons but don't know if any one is working on that color here.

 

[iajewel]

I will have to google the Lemon as I have never seen one. The birds Im working with are Barred rock, with the best color patters and size I can find and then using a 1/2 Barred Rock, 1/2 Buff Cochen on those hens. The reason for the cochin is the size, temperment and broody ness. I only save back hens that sit and lay well.
My over all goal is the prefect farmsted bird with color and style. A large meat bird that will free range well, survive Iowa winters, lay very well and sit thier own eggs. I only keep back broody hens from both the Barred rock group and the cochen cross group. I also watch egg production, rooster temperment, and the over all meat capasity of the roosters. The larger the bird, the less they eat the more they produce and the better mothers.. the best chance they will stay in my flock.
I will check out the Lemons.. they sound worth looking at.. thanks.

 

[iajewel]

I just took a look at the Lemon cuckoo.. Those are sort of it.. The lemon is barred with gold and white barring.. My birds are gold with black barring, so the barring is very clear, not faded.

I will try and get a pic of my F-1 Rooster tomarrow if it doesn't rain tomarrow to show an example.

In the back of my mind I keep thinking someone has to have come up with this before, as it seems to natural. I would eventually like to have a feather legged and clean legged variaty as thats sort of the natural progresson of things now.

 

[Chickndaddy]

They sound interesting. I'm anxiously awaiting a pic.

 

[Kev]

Gold with black barring, as in Campines or penciled Hamburgs?

If that's the case, this can't be accomplished by using the barring from barred rocks as that barring is Sex linked barring and what it does is lay down a white bar across the feather. Crossing and breeding with buffs just gives buff barreds- white bars over a buff feather, much like the 'lemon barred/cuckoo'.

The black and gold barring as on Campines is due to autosomal barring- an completely different gene from the barring as in Rocks. That may be old information.. not sure if understanding of this pattern has changed since then to essentially a result of several different genes combining to make that sort of barring.. In any case it is something completely different from the barring found on BR.

 

[iajewel]

I can tell you that it is working with barred rocks and the buff. The most intresting challange I have had beleive it or not, is the white. The rooster I will go catch up here in a bit and take pics of was born white. He is now 5 months old and just starting to color. So for a year, you don't know what to cull or what you have. They have to go through the finel molt. I have another hen that is the same cross, and is more black, she also is having to go through a molt to see what she is.. almost none of these have hatched out being what they will be. The main issue is holding that many birds that long, Then.. what do you do with tuff old roosters? So culling then becomes an issue, as you have to do something with what you don't wish to keep.
Im holding back 6 hens from that group and 2 roos over the winter. Untill I get more consistancy, I won't ever hold that many back.

 

[Kev]

Yes that could happen but I'm trying to ask(is it Campine style barring?) & explain that it isn't the barring from barred rocks(if it indeed is Campine style barring)..

The sex linked barring puts white bars across a feather. Therefore depending on that gene for creating gold & black barreds is impossible, if that's as in Campine style black and gold barring on a feather with no white.

For example, barred rocks are in actuality a genetically solid black chicken. They also have the sex linked barring.. which puts white bars on them. Again, this is what causes the patterning on Lemons- this white barring effect over a buff feather.

The Campine style black and gold barred feathers is caused by a completely different gene- autosomal barred (or may be a combination of several different genes to make this appearence). It is recessive and not sex linked. If you are getting birds with this type barring, it is due to other genes that were in the ancestral stock.


Pictures definitely will help. Take pictures of birds resembling your goal color pattern also so other readers may recognize and help with the goal..

Culling is a problem for every person who breeds with a specific goal, unfortunately. I'm lucky to be near a population that loves eating older roosters..

 

[iajewel]

I understand what you are saying about the white on the feathers, and the fact barred rocks are basically black would explain allot of the hens I have.
However.. The bird.. when I catch up with him ( could have to wait untill he roosts tonight as he is MIA now) Will show the very true black barring, The reason Im choosing this bird to show you is he was born white, not black, and the new feathers coming in, are gold with black, not white barring.
Im gonna take some bread out and see if I can't lure him in.. I really want to post pics of him.. give me a bit.. however unfortunatly.. it may be tonight before I can get him.. Let me go try.