Bared Rock Roos or Hens??

These chicks are 7 weeks old, and I am thinking I have 2 roosters and 1 hen. What do you think? I was also given 3 older barred rock chicks, not sure how old do I have Roos or hens?!

jsweitz said:

These chicks are 7 weeks old, and I am thinking I have 2 roosters and 1 hen. What do you think? I was also given 3 older barred rock chicks, not sure how old do I have Roos or hens?!

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Just to be clear- there are two separate groups of three birds each represented here, right? The top two photos are of one group (not caged) and the bottom three photos (caged) are the second group?
If that is correct:
In the first group I see two pullets and one cockerel
In the second group I see two cockerels and one pullet

Ol Grey Mare said:

Just to be clear- there are two separate groups of three birds each represented here, right? The top two photos are of one group (not caged) and the bottom three photos (caged) are the second group?
If that is correct:
In the first group I see two pullets and one cockerel
In the second group I see two cockerels and one pullet

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I agree.

The cockerels are the lighter birds with the larger comb and wattles.

Wyandottes7 said:

I agree.

The cockerels are the lighter birds with the larger comb and wattles.

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x2

Is it safe to say that generally the roosters are light grey and black while the hens are dark grey and black?

Sorry, for the double pictures and the poor quality! I guess you all know your stuff if you can tell from the photos!

I think it is still too early to be sure. I have 3 BR hens now 18 mo old. Photos below are at 7 weeks old.
All bars showed earlier comb and wattle formation than my buffs. In second photo - every source had me believing the lighter colored one would be roo, but she's a she and lays eggs.
I don't think you can be sure til you see the sickle tail or saddle feathers or one starts to crow to be sure.

sunflour said:

I think it is still too early to be sure. I have 3 BR hens now 18 mo old. Photos below are at 7 weeks old.
All bars showed earlier comb and wattle formation than my buffs. In second photo - every source had me believing the lighter colored one would be roo, but she's a she and lays eggs.
I don't think you can be sure til you see the sickle tail or saddle feathers or one starts to crow to be sure.

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*shrug* - I'd have said all three were pullets looking at those photos - not sure what it was about the lighter one that caused you to think roo based on those "sources"

Ol Grey Mare said:

*shrug* - I'd have said all three were pullets looking at those photos - not sure what it was about the lighter one that caused you to think roo based on those "sources"

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Searches in BYC forums and other on-line photo and chicken id sites listed males would have larger and less distinct head spot as chicks, show more pronounced white in their banding. And girls would have small distinct spots, less width in white stripes, and more leg pigments.


The lighter = Tweedie- looked different from the other two when young - got them when they were 3 days old. Tweedie had a white spot covering most of her head - the others had small white spot. Tweedie had more pronounced white banding than the others. The only characteristic of hope was the darker pigment on her legs. During teenage months when side by side, she looked noticeably different with more white than black. But I remained hopeful because all 3 stayed together in rate of growth on combs and wattles. But once mature her banding did change and now all three have almost the exact same overall color/banding.


But one thing that surprised me is that my 3 BR all have different size combs & wattles. The one with the largest was my first later, the one with medium size was second layer, and the last to start laying has the smallest. All started laying eggs within a week of each other. At 18 months old their combs and wattles sizes have not equalized. Is this common?

That's why you have to spend hours and hours on byc, looking at pictures of other people's birds. Yes, sunflour's one pullet is lighter than the others, but in my eyes it's a normal variation of hatchery barred birds. The OPs birds have a much more pronounced color difference.

Agree with Ol Grey Mare.

donrae said:

The OPs birds have a much more pronounced color difference.

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What is "OPs" ?