Help me figure out if I have Roos or not. PLEASE!

[teachchickmi]

Hello there! Brand new to BYC and brand new (IMPATIENT) chicken mama. I am not allowed to have roos where I am located, so I want to figure them out ASAP so they can go to a lovely, new coop / family!

I have 6 chicks I got from TSC from pullet bins on March 10th, but you know how reliable those can be. I have taken pictures of them and might make a new thread with better pictures or add more here... but here they are. I am suspicious of one of the Silver Laced Wyandottes and one of the Black Sex Links (I know they should be properly sexed, but I'm nervous seeing the red!)

Thank you for helping me out!

Suspect #1... not too sure about this one... keeps me guessing!

Suspect #2... Black Sex Link... Looked a little red to me... not sure.

Close up of suspect #1.

Are these all pullets? LOL

I am such a newbie. LOL Thanks for helping me out! lol

 

[Rose the Legbar]

I am guessing that they are all pullets. Nothing screams cockerel.

 

[GlicksChicks]

All look like pullets!

 

[NatJ]

Suspect #2... Black Sex Link... Looked a little red to me... not sure.

An actual Black Sexlink male would have white barring on his feathers. That chicken is not a Black Sexlink male.

But if you are worried that it could be a male of some other kind: I do not think so. That looks like a female color pattern to me. For any male that can show both black and red/gold in his feathers, the red should be in different places.

 

[teachchickmi]

All look like pullets!

Thank goodness.

 

[teachchickmi]

An actual Black Sexlink male would have white barring on his feathers. That chicken is not a Black Sexlink male.

But if you are worried that it could be a male of some other kind: I do not think so. That looks like a female color pattern to me. For any male that can show both black and red/gold in his feathers, the red should be in different places.

I was reading that too. That the BSL males have white on their heads when they are little. I did not notice that. Thank you for easing my mind.

 

[teachchickmi]

I am guessing that they are all pullets. Nothing screams cockerel.

Not even the Wyandotte? I have been questioning for weeks. The red has toned down, or I've gotten used to it.

 

[NatJ]

I was reading that too. That the BSL males have white on their heads when they are little. I did not notice that. Thank you for easing my mind.

Yes, the Black Sexlink males have white on top of their heads when they hatch. But as they grow their feathers, they also have white lines (barring) in their feathers. There is one gene (called the Barring gene) that causes the light headspot and the white barring in the feathers. Black Sexlinks come from a particular cross that makes only males have that gene, not their sisters. That is why they are called "sexlinks," because the color is linked with the sex of the chicks.

 

[teachchickmi]

Yes, the Black Sexlink males have white on top of their heads when they hatch. But as they grow their feathers, they also have white lines (barring) in their feathers. There is one gene (called the Barring gene) that causes the light headspot and the white barring in the feathers. Black Sexlinks come from a particular cross that makes only males have that gene, not their sisters. That is why they are called "sexlinks," because the color is linked with the sex of the chicks.

Thank you for this clarification. I appreciate that!

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Not even the Wyandotte? I have been questioning for weeks. The red has toned down, or I've gotten used to it.

Wyandottes tend to pink up very very early. Without a doubt your wyandotte is a pullet