What could be mixed with my barred rock?

[connie001]

Does anyone have any idea what could be mixed with my barred rock chicken. I believe it is a rooster. He is 15 weeks old. He is twice as big as the other chics I bought at the same time and also those I bought 3 weeks earlier. There is a metalic gold feathering around his neck, on his back and wings. It's kind of hard to see in the pictures, but it is in the areas that look lighter and shiny. The other barred rock bought at the same time looks normal. What do you think. Also, he doesn't crow yet and is very gentle. Thanks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chances are, he isn't a Barred Rock at all. More likely, he is a Black Sex Link rooster, which is the male offspring of the RIR over BR cross that is so popular. Many of these BSL cockerels confuse people as they look very much like their BR mother. The leakage of the red/gold is typical of these birds.

Although it hard to say, simply based on your photo, but it does also look as if the black is dark, another sign of the BSL cockerel. The overall look of the pure BR male is lighter in appearance.

 

[connie001]

Thank you, you are probably right. I ordered two barred rock from a local feed store and they both came sick and died. They were replaced with two picked out of leftovers. They looked like barred rock babies, but later I saw that the barred rock babies looked similar to male sex linked. Also, the barring is more gray than black. Just looks darker in the picture.

 

[donrae]

I agree, he had a red daddy and a barred momma most likely. They're quite handsome roos, if you're able to keep him. The red leakage increases as they age, adding more red/gold color to the hackles and wings