The Big Fat Is This A Rooster? Thread

[XxMingirlxX]

Two roosters, sorry! You can see sickle and hackle feathers developing.

 

[junebuggena]

The problem is that the first one has two copies of the barring gene, but also has red leakage, which means both parents were barred, but also had something else mixed in. The mostly white one isn't a pattern/color combo that could have come from a first generation cross of either of the possible parent breeds. Leghorns are dominant white. White genes only affect black coloring. A single copy of the dominant white gene usually results in a solid white bird with some flecks of black. It would not produce a white bird with a black tail, that is the result of silver. there are other genes at play that aren't found in Barred Rocks, Welsummers, or Leghorns. The dark barred bird could be a black sexlink from a barred hen with a Welsummer rooster.

 

[moe03xb]

Thanks. I'm going to wait a while longer and keep an eye out. I'm still not convinced it's a roo, it's comb is pinker than the rest but nowhere near as pink as the many of the other posters.

 

[kimntep]

Started my own thread before finding this one...oops. Any idea on breed would also be helpful....assuming she/he is some sort of red?

This is absolutely precious!

 

[kimntep]

Am I correct in saying that that chicks has a cross beak?

Looks that way to me. I hope she makes a great pet and that it doesn't hinder her in any way. So cute!

 

[XxMingirlxX]

She does. She is also missing an eye. We saw her at tractor supply and decided to give her a chance. She's doing just fine so far...hoping for the best.

That's great and so lovely of you!
This a good good thread to read about other people's experiences caring for cross beaks :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ds-chickens-including-tube-feeding-techniques

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Snapped some quick pictures of my barred cochin bantams yesterday in the baby pen while we were doing yardwork. They are about 6 weeks old. I've heard that cochins normally start getting big red combs pretty early. My buff brahma bantams, I've been able to pick out 2 roosters for the past two weeks. The barred cochins are the same age and I don't see a rooster in the bunch. Is it just wishful thinking or did I get that lucky on straight run to get 3 pullets? I can get better pictures when the sun comes up. These are just the most recent I have.

They look like pullets so far!

 

[junebuggena]

Snapped some quick pictures of my barred cochin bantams yesterday in the baby pen while we were doing yardwork. They are about 6 weeks old. I've heard that cochins normally start getting big red combs pretty early. My buff brahma bantams, I've been able to pick out 2 roosters for the past two weeks. The barred cochins are the same age and I don't see a rooster in the bunch. Is it just wishful thinking or did I get that lucky on straight run to get 3 pullets? I can get better pictures when the sun comes up. These are just the most recent I have.

The Cochins all have dark pullet barring.

 

[kimntep]

She does. She is also missing an eye. We saw her at tractor supply and decided to give her a chance. She's doing just fine so far...hoping for the best.

Kudos to you for taking her! I bet she ends up being the best girl!

 

[junebuggena]

D'Uccles do tend to mature quickly. However, that comb isn't quite pink enough for me to say it's a cockerel for sure. The behavior you are seeing is common of chicks at that age, regardless of gender. It's pecking order related, not hormone related.