Barred Rock...Pullet or Cockerel? - Page 3

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Originally Posted by Barred4Life 

Here's an updated photo of ''Blackie'', who now is 6 weeks old, since the chick has a sinlge comb, so from what I read it would mean it's not a EE? The white and black pattern on his-her chest has spread all around it's neck like a necklace. The comb is not pink yet and the legs are smaller then my Barred Rock rooster so I'm still hoping it's a hen...but I won't hold my breath.

 

 

Any guesses to what we have here? We're hoping it's a hen so we can have her around for a couple of years 

Wow, beautiful.  It's a mix of some sort, likely EE.  EE's are mixes so they can have any comb type, beard or no beard, and any color legs.  Jury is still out on sex, but I'm leaning towards male.  If you start seeing red bleed through in the wing bow area, then it's for sure a cockerel.

Have a feeling it's a pullet, but I guess you should already have some clues by now.  If it is an EE and you start seeing mahogany, you'll know I'm wrong

Still looks pullet-y to me.  The hackles seem more pointed than expected from a pullet, but I think it is an optical illusion from the lacing and that if you held a feather in your hand you would be able to see that it is actually rounded.  The comb has also remained pale.  Regardless should be a nice looking chicken

I think it helps just looking a chicken after chicken at different stages.  Here is a link for a barred rock roo at 8wks.  See how red and large the comb is compared to your chick?  Even the red in the background of the 2nd to last post has a redder comb than the black one.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/536170/barred-rock-roo-or-hen-8-weeks

It does vary from breed to breed.  With my RIR (avatar), I was pretty sure (but in denial) from 3 wks on that he was a rooster (probably even closer to the 2nd week, but I was just holding out hope even when he started crowing at 16 wks).  Hackle feathers should be apparent in most breeds by now, saddle feathers start appearing and eventually sickle feathers (those long beautiful tail feathers) and the comb/wattles just keep getting bigger and bigger if its a cockerel.  Other signs, include color differentiation (whiter barring for Barred Rocks as soon as feathers start coming in and Easter Eggers I believe start getting mahogany red wing feathers around 6 wks for males).  It helps to know the breed of the chicken as it can give you clues as to what to expect for each sex.  However, this being said, there are those chickens who go against the "rules" of sexing and are the little surprises.

This is a beauiful chicken...I think she looks like a pullet. Can you please post an updated picture?

Its a very pretty chicken, but it might be a Bantam. Complely diffrent from a Rock.