What sex are my Barred Plymouth Rock chicks?

Date sort Score sort
GeoGoom

GeoGoom

Hatching
Apr 30, 2016
7
0
7
I recently purchased six straight run Barred Plymouth Rocks from Tractor Supply (I work there, but am new to chickens). Trying to sex them as early as possible so I can let my landlord know if there are any roosters, but no matter what research I do, I still can't figure them out. Can I get any help from someone more experienced? Hoping to figure out how many pullets and cockerels I have altogether. They're a little over a week old right now. Thank you!

Chick 1
400

400

400


Chick 2
400

400

400


Chick 3
400

400

400


Chick 4
400

400

400


Chick 5
400

400

400


Chick 6
400

400

400
 
It is too early to sex them reliably as many of the clues that some folks use to sex them early by appearance are unreliable with production stock such as this. Also, bird #1 is not a barred bird as it has no dot whatsoever on it's head. It may have been in with the BR chicks, but it is not going to be a barred bird. At this point all you can do is wait a few more weeks until they have started to feather in fairly well and at that point gender will begin to become apparent.
 
Chick #1 looks to be a Black Australorp or maybe Black Sex-Link. Looks just like my baby BA, who was also supposed to be a BR.
 
x2 with Old Grey Mare.

Hatchery quality BR's are not reliable for the various sexing clues. Only very controlled Barred Rock lines, and then only those birds within a specific line, can reliably use the sexing clues of size of head dot and color wash down legs as these traits vary between the different lines and gender differences.

Comb size and color is your best bet. Hatchery BR males get larger, redder combs pretty fast. You should have an inkling by 4 weeks, a good idea by 6 weeks, and usually are certain by 10 weeks (with a few hold outs).

LofMc
 
I agree chick 1 is not a barred Rock.

The rest are really difficult. they have the white head spot showing they're barred birds, but no one really has the dark leg wash one usually sees with a pullet. A few look like they could be roosters from the head spot, but the pattern is really all over the place. Sorry not to be of more help, they're just hard to pin down. Post again when they're fully feathered and we'll take a go then.
 

Similar threads

Corgiqueen
What gender are these Blue Plymouth Rocks?
Replies
3
Views
193
Rhodebar Lover
Rhodebar Lover
E
We thought Barred Rock…
2
Replies
10
Views
425
Brooks_
Brooks_
kaydeetee86
Sexing Baby Barred Rocks
Replies
1
Views
444
CloneFly
CloneFly
T
    • Like
HELP IDENTIFYING AND SEXING CHICKS
4 5 6
Replies
57
Views
1K
The Five O
T
Emmaloveschickens9156
    • Like
Sexing chicks? HeLp!
Replies
8
Views
234
aribubbs
aribubbs

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom