Red and yellow feathers on barred rocks

[lauren212]

They just came visible in the last few days. The other one doesn't have them yet. But since there is one red feather I'm sure the saddle feathers will show in the next week.

 

[Eric 2016]

So if you bread a sex link cock to a barred rock hen would the offspring look like regular barred rocks?

 

[junebuggena]

So if you bread a sex link cock to a barred rock hen would the offspring look like regular barred rocks?

Yes and no. 50% of the male offspring will have two copies of the barring gene, like a 'purebred' will. The other 50% of the males will only have a single copy of the barring gene. And about 50% of the females will have a barring gene and look like a purebred. But the other 50% of the females will not have the barring gene at all.

 

[Eric 2016]

Interesting. Thank you

 

[Cel45]

The main clue is the Barring. The Barring gene is sex linked. To explain it in a horribly oversimplified way, the Barring gene can exist in two copies in males but only one in females (because chromosome reasons). Genetically speaking, a Barred bird is a Black bird with white Barring overtop. Two copies will have a lot more effect over the black background than one copy; and as such, birds with two copies have an overall much lighter colored appearance than birds with just one copy. Hence, in a purebred Barred Rock, males (who have two copies) are much lighter colored than hens (one copy). A male who is dark-colored like a hen cannot be a Barred Rock (or any other barred bird), and instead must be a cross. In this case, the red leakage in the wing bows was the giveaway that they are Black Sex Link males. Black Sex Links are hybrids of Production Red cocks over Barred Rock hens. This produces solid black females and single barred males (one copy). Both have red leakage from the Production Red parent, in females this red shows in the hackle and breast, in males it is seen in the hackle, saddle, and wing bow.

Thanks for that!

 

[lauren212]

I'm going Saturday to return my two cockerels. There must have been black sex links mixed with the barred rocks. What should I look for when picking two new ones. Obviously no red feathers.....just small combs and dark barring ? Any other tips for picking pullets

 

[Mosey2003]

I feel for you, I bought FOUR of these that the guy told me were Barred Rock pullets, and they were all BSL cockerels. Then he kicked me out of the FB group when I asked him about it!

From what I've read here, the best way to pick Barred Rock pullets, if they're actually Barred Rocks, is to pick the darkest ones and ones that have dark smudging down the whole leg and foot.

 

[lauren212]

Ok thanks. If I can't tell I'm just going to get red sexlink hens that are laying size already. I really want a barred rock but if they are all BSL cockerels that's no good. I asked the lady about the possibility of BSL cockerals and she told there was no way and they don't look like that but obviously that's what they are. Hopefully I get some hens!!

 

[junebuggena]

Find a different place to get your chicks. Obviously, this person has no idea how sexlinking works. And can't be trusted to keep breeds separate. Order from a hatchery or find someone that actually knows what they are doing, locally.