Barred Rock chicks

I bought 3 barred rocks baby chicks among others just about 2-3 weeks ago. One little one died and the other two have just started doing the chest bump thing you often see in growing cockerels. Is that a sure sign they are both cockerels?

All the baby chicks are molting at the moment.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Kris

The kind of behaviour you describe is not solely the preserve of cockerels - young female chicks do the same.

X2. My females are constantly doing that same thing.

Hi.

Although I agree that females can do the same thing... I can't help but wonder why would your chicks be molting? That is not normal! How long ago was it that you lost one? you could have a bigger issue going on here. Please elaborate as to your set up, how many chicks total, and what you are feeding?

Also, BR can be easy to sex. Males are much lighter almost appearing to have white body with black stripes. And the females are darker bodied with much thinner white stripes. Of course there are many variations among hatchery birds and that may not quite hold true.

On that topic...I also just got 2 baby barred rock chicks (they're about 9 days old now) and I know it's too young to sex them, but I was reading a lot yesterday and I heard some conflicting information, but I think I read that the female barred rock chicks have symmetrical circular white spots on the top of their heads and the males white "spots" on their head are often irregular or nonexistent. Can any of you experts confirm if that's true or not? Or clarify that info for us?
Here are my two babies...hoping that's symmetrical enough...!!

Oh thank goodness! I already have 2 French copper Marans cockerels too many and a young French Maran rooster. All sons of the rooster in my avatar.

I am so loving raising those baby chicks!

Thanks so much for your prompt replies.

Agreed with ES4L. If you do a thread search re: sexing barred rock chicks, you should find some pics that will give you a good idea if they are indeed pullets. How old are they? Info re: # of chicks, size of enclosure, heat source if any, amount of heat if any provided, and temp at both ends of the enclosure if you are providing heat. Also, Pic of "molting" chicks would be helpful. Do a very careful inspection for signs of mites and lice. Especially check vent, under wings.

RRLaney said:

On that topic...I also just got 2 baby barred rock chicks (they're about 9 days old now) and I know it's too young to sex them, but I was reading a lot yesterday and I heard some conflicting information, but I think I read that the female barred rock chicks have symmetrical circular white spots on the top of their heads and the males white "spots" on their head are often irregular or nonexistent. Can any of you experts confirm if that's true or not? Or clarify that info for us?
Here are my two babies...hoping that's symmetrical enough...!!

Click to expand...

Hi there! I've never found sexing by the spot on the head to be very easy or correct (for myself, but others can do it well). I DO know that when BRs feather out, males will be a brighter white and females tend to have darker colors.

EggSighted4Life said:

Hi. 

Although I agree that females can do the same thing... I can't help but wonder why would your chicks be molting? That is not normal! How long ago was it that you lost one? you could have a bigger issue going on here. Please elaborate as to your set up, how many chicks total, and what you are feeding?

Also, BR can be easy to sex. Males are much lighter almost appearing to have white body with black stripes. And the females are darker bodied with much thinner white stripes. Of course there are many variations among hatchery birds and that may not quite hold true.

Click to expand...

They are losing all the baby fluff I guess. The last ones I had did about the same thing about the same time.

The one I lost was last week, noticed she stood apart from the others and wasn't feeding much so I separated her. They were all in the house then. I moved them outside to the big coop about 3 days ago. They have a rather large bird enclosure for daytime 'run' so are protected and at night I gather them up back in the big ster lite container with a mesh lid and in the coop they go.

Am raising the 2 barred rock chicks with 2 buff orphingtons, a Dominique and 2 gold laced Wyandottes. So that is 7 chicks total. Purchase at my local feed store, Futrals.

In the big coop live Myrtle a Bantie her 2 pullets about 4-5 months old and her two cockerels along with the French Maran who also came from the same hen house as Myrtle the Marans Bantie. So they are 6 in total.

Baby chicks eat medicated mash and the adults/kids eat organic mash. I also feed BOB in their drinking water.

This is SW Florida so temps are mild. We don't have A/c on but are still in shorts and flip flops...

Appreciate your concern and look forward to your advice.

Kris

The head spot is usually a reliable indicator, if you know what to look for. Females often also have the head spot, but it looks different. Beak color and shank color are also indicators in barred or cuckoo patterned birds. Search the threads.