I think so. As I understand it, at least one locus slowing feather developement is on the Z-chromosome which can be used to distinguish heterozygous males from females that lack the allele. One of the "American Dominique" strains I got from a commercial hatchery did have the sex-linked variety possibly comes from crossing with Barred Plymouth Rocks. Another locus not on Z-chromosome has an allele that makes for the shorter feathers on wings and tails of some of the larger production breeds. That allele I am selecting against in my Dominiques by introducing the wildtype alternative producing faster feather growth from American Games.
Dominique has another slow feathering locus that the barred rock also has. Fast feathering at both loci produces feather growth like in wild-type fowl which faster than even American Dominiques. Birds with extended black base coloration and barring gene have smoky look to feathers while the autosomal slow barring produces the somewhat crisper yet jumbled cuckoo look of the American Dominique. It requires the additional male sex-linked slow feathering to get the crisper and ringed looked to the bars and Barred Plymouth Rocks. I would not doubt the existance of a third locus that slows feathering.
Post a picture showing bird in question.
