The blood of the Malines in the make-up of this breed is seen in its quick maturity and rapid growth. To further its commercial importance its utility properties are valued on the show bench in preference to markings. Lightly feathered shanks are a standardised characteristic, and the male is lighter in colour than the female. As a barred breed, the females when mated with unbarred males of breeds with dark downs produce sex-linked offspring, the male chicks having the white head-spot when hatched, which is absent in the female chicks.