On barred and cuckoo birds, males are lighter because the gene is on the sex chromosome Z. Males are ZZ and females are ZW. So 2 copies make for closer lines on the barring making for a lighter appearing bird.
That's my understanding, too. Double barring on the males. But I'm guessing it's possible there can be some unusual variation in color from run of the mill hatchery birds too. So whatever it is, I'm happy. Still, I hope it's a cockerel. I'd like to have a self sustaining flock with a couple of hen-raised broods a year that I can raise up as meat birds.
It's so easy to lose time with the chicks. I must have spent an hour with them a little while ago, feeding them weeds, which a few of them totally loved, adding a new, challenging roost to the coop, and drinking a couple of beers. Good times!
The new roost is challenging becaus it's a 4 inch diameter section of a madrona branch. It's slick as heck and they have a hard time latching on. I figure the struggle will make them stronger! LOL
I watched as one of them saw a little gnat and chased it down. Sucker caught it and ate it, too! Very cool!
And another found a little red worm in the dirty roots of the weeds I gave them. Started running and cheeping... not very subtle, are they. Right after she swallowed it she went to the grit bowl and ate a few rocks. It's interesting how they instictively know what they need and when they need it.
I have a 50 foot roll of 1/2 inch hardware cloth and all the lumber I'll need to build my run. That project starts tomorrow.
One other thing, when I'm sitting in my chair watching them from the 2'x3' opening in the coop, there's one of them that's always looking over my shoulder. I know she's itching to fly over my shoulders and out of the coop.
I picked up 2 or 3 of them today, too, probably a couple times each. They are slowly getting used to their Hu Man. Which is nice.
