White sport barred rock.. or just light?

[Kev]

the roo looks dark, actually like he is not pure for barring. Are you seeing any chicks without the head spot at all? Those would be females and feather out solid black, no barring.. (barreds are simply an all black chicken with barring "added")

Reasons for thinking he is not pure barred- he is same shade- actually a little darker than the one hen in front, has a solid black tail feather, has color on his legs. If you are getting any chicks without the white head spot that is absolute proof he is not pure for barred.

If he is not pure for barred, it may be the light chicks you are seeing are the male pure barred versions.

if those light chicks are all males and grow up extremely light, like my birds then they have the sex linked dilution gene. If they grow up only a shade lighter then they are regular barreds.

 

[Rod-T]

the roo looks dark, actually like he is not pure for barring.  Are you seeing any chicks without the head spot at all?  Those would be females and feather out solid black, no barring..  (barreds are simply an all black chicken with barring "added")

Reasons for thinking he is not pure barred- he is same shade- actually a little darker than the one hen in front,  has a solid black tail feather, has color on his legs.   If you are getting any chicks without the white head spot that is absolute proof he is not pure for barred.

If he is not pure for barred,  it may be the light chicks you are seeing are the male pure barred versions.

if those light chicks are all males and grow up extremely light, like my birds then they have the sex linked dilution gene.  If they grow up only a shade lighter then they are regular barreds.

Ya that one black feather on tail . .it's about to fall out..

All 3 birds have some dark shades on legs.. from what I read on here that's a hatchery trait. I wasn't to concerned with that.
So far all chicks have head spots. I haven't hatched many yet however. .
Not sure if I'll keep any of these chicks for breeding. .
I've been selling chicks of various diferent breeds.. just to help pay for feed.
Sounds like I need a better trio or quad for next year.

 

[Rod-T]

Few updated photos. A little more fluffed out more and dry..

 

[Wappoke]

It is rare but sometimes chicks hatch out a color different than normal because of a recessive gene. .I hatched a male black breasted red that had black down color and was almost black as an adult. I should have done some work with this male and his mother but had other projects and no room for the project. This melanization may have been the same phenotype found in Smyth's recessive black line. Jeffrey also segregated a recessive eumelaniser in OEG Brassy Backs & Quails.

 

[Mott22]

I hatched a few barred rocks from my trio.. one turned out gray almost silver. .
Still has a head dot..
Is this unusual? Is it a white sport of the breed?
My trio is just hatchery quality.. but supposedly purebred

Good afternoon or morning I came across your pic because I too just hatched out an even light chick that still has the dot. From looking at the feet it may be a Roo I'm will to keep he may turn out to be a very gorgeous Barred Rock mine is 1 week old as of today 10/3/22. Marcy