As long as I’ve known I’ve wanted chickens, I’ve known I’ve wanted to have a Barred Rock. I love their black and white striped feathers, and they always seem so alert and tuned in to whoever is around. Rock Ann is going to be absolutely beautiful, as she has been a beautiful chick right from the start!
Here she is at 3 days old (4/18/2015), a tiny little dark puff — with the easily-recognized difference from Violet being the little white spot on her head.
She was quite dark in the beginning, but her little fluffiness appeared more gray than black early on. And, by as early as 3 weeks old (5/6/2015), her barred black and white feathering pattern began to appear on her tiny little wings (below).
The differences in her growth pattern, and that of Violet, were obvious right from the beginning. Rock Ann has stayed quite fluffy as she has grown in size. Below, she is seen, first, at 4-1/2 weeks (5/16/2015) and then, again, at 5 weeks (5/20/2015).
Described as another “perfect beginner chicken”, Barred Rocks are reported to be good layers of brown eggs, people friendly, and rarely broody. I have seen many comments that they have a tendency to be bossy with other breeds, especially the Orpingtons who are usually quite docile. I have not seen this behavior, yet, with Rock Ann. She is, perhaps, the largest in my brooder at this moment, but she seems to get along well with everyone at this point in time. She is very curious and always responds to activity going on around her. But, she rarely seems to react nervously in any way.
At six weeks old (5/27/2015), she is nearly fully feathered. Her neck feathers (hackles) are not in, so we watch for those each day to check the shape — a pullet’s hackle feathers should be rounded on the ends, not pointy like those of a cockerel.
She is going to be a real beauty!