Really a Barred Rock? Variability in Coloring

[micstrachan]

Hello,
I have two Barred Rocks. One is 3.75 years old and the other is almost 6 months old. The pullet looked slightly different from the other barred rocks as a chick. Now that she’s almost as big as the hen, the fact that her feathers are a much warmer gray with less contrast in the barring than the hen is evident. It’s not so much the barring as the difference in hue that has me questioning... is she really a barred rock? Is it normal to have so much variation in color (within this breed) from one bird to the next? Or maybe has my older bird lost some of the warmth over time and I haven’t noticed? (The hen is also molting, but it’s subtle.)

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Where’d you get her?

 

[micstrachan]

She’s just hatchery stock from my local feed store. They use Privett.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

She’s just hatchery stock from my local feed store. They use Privett.

That’s why hatchery breed for quantity not quality (hope that doesn’t sounds rude)

 

[micstrachan]

No worries. I understand that. I’m in California and really don’t know how to find a reputable breeder here. Is there any breed besides Barred Rock that has the barring, single comb and black on the front of otherwise yellow feet?

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Barred Holland’s but they’re pretty rare I don’t think you can get them from a hatchery

 

[Folly's place]

If you want to find SQ bred birds, look up the Plymouth Rock breed club (there must be one!) and search from there. Those birds do look a lot different than hatchery birds, but they may or may not be the same excellent egg producers that hatchery types tend to be.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Does Privett sell clean legged cuckoo Marans? They should have white/ pink legs, not yellow, but it's a maybe here. If she produces darker eggs (they won't be chocolate) that's maybe who you have. It's still more likely that she's a BR.
Mary

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks, Mary. My birds are pets with a bonus of eggs. I’m really just curious since she’s only my second BR.

I also have a second Buckeye, who has different coloring from her older flock mate. Since this is my first time repeating breeds, it is interesting to see the variability in coloring, at least from hatchery stock.

It is also interesting to see breed character traits come through, when before I couldn’t tell how much is breed and how much is individual bird personality. For example, my Buckeye pullet is super curious and vocal, just like the hen! And my California White reminds me so much of my late Brown Leghorn with her friendliness, boldness, stance, and voice!

 

[micstrachan]

Hi again. Just wanted to show again the difference in feather color and barring. Here is my hen:

And here is my pullet:

I’m not crazy, right? Aren’t these pretty different?