Red Sex Link or no?

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JedJackson said:
One further thing to add. A red rooster crossed with a barred hen will make black sex links, not red sex links. Red sex links don't use barring to differentiate the chicks.
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Yes, absolutely!
The only reason I mentioned the red sex link is because there are two silver hens who were potential mothers and he doesn't look like a black sex link cockerel at all. The Light Sussex and Light Brahma didn't quite fit the bill either though (especially since he's looking so male) and they've now been ruled out.
 
Westholme Farmstead said:
Yes, absolutely!
The only reason I mentioned the red sex link is because there are two silver hens who were potential mothers and he doesn't look like a black sex link cockerel at all. The Light Sussex and Light Brahma didn't quite fit the bill either though (especially since he's looking so male) and they've now been ruled out.
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That makes sense!
 
He's losing that baby fluff and his feathers are coming in a nice, dark red. The barring seems to be intensifying rather than fading.

That's his brother (I think it's a cockerel) above him. Same RIR Dad, the one above is half Black Ameraucana.

20230609_114037-01.jpeg
 
Westholme Farmstead said:
Can someone help me out with this 4 week old chick? I'm trying to determine this chick's breed mix but it's not adding up for me.

The rooster was a Rhode Island Red for sure. The hen was either Barred Rock, Light Sussex, Light Brahma or Rhode Island Red. There are black Ameraucana and White Leghorns in the coop as well but this hatched from a brown egg so neither of them are an option. I've attached a photos of the potential hens and rooster in addition to photos of the chick in question.

I originally assumed that this chick was a pure RIR but it seems to be getting barred feathers and Rhode Island Reds don't have barred feathers. This rules out it being pure RIR.

I'm just learning when it comes to chicken genetics but my understanding is that a Barred Rock hen x Rhode Island Red rooster makes a black sex link. This definitely isn't that. So the hen was not a Barred Rock.

Now, again I'm learning but, I believe a Light Sussex or Light Brahma hen with a Rhode Island Red rooster makes a red sex link. This chick fits this description best but neither of these potential hens has barred feathers. Sussex have white legs though and I believe that is dominant. This chick has yellow legs. Probably not the Light Sussex because of that. Do Brahmas always pass down feathered legs/feet? He/she has clean legs and feet.

So, anyway, I'm confused. I've assumed this chick to be a cockerel but, if it's a red sex link then it's obviously a pullet being that it is red. It does not look female to me though. I have another red chick from this hatch that looks quite similar to this one but has feathered legs. The hen must have been a Brahma for that one making it a red sex link female. She is fairly masculine and quite a heavy bird as well, maybe even a little moreso than this one.

There are no other potential breeds that could be the mother and everyone was supposed to be purebred. They look to be pure but I suppose it's possible they aren't though. I know that, in the end, it doesn't matter but I'm curious. I'd love some insight from those who know a little more than I do. Is there something obvious I'm missing here?

The chick in question:

View attachment 3532291View attachment 3532292

The rooster and potential hens:

View attachment 3532303View attachment 3532304

I've had lots of people tell me that the barred feathers mean this chick had to come from a Barred Rock hen. We have another from this hatch that obviously came from a Barred Rock hen (see below) and I would expect any others from the RIR rooster x BR hen mating to look like our boy below if male or be all black if female. Maybe this isn't always the case though?

View attachment 3532308

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Krystal
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A few of my RIR had some coloration like that at 4 weeks, I'd give it a little more time, by 7 weeks you should be seeing closer to the final coloration and be able to tell better if it's pure RIR or a mix.
 

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