“Pullet” TSC Barred Rocks, Roo behavior

[Shelbysoobs]

Hey there, I got 4 barred rock pullets from TSC, I was cautious of accidental roos and tried to pick pullet looking chicks based on head spot but then noticed a lot of the baby chicks had gray looking down instead of dark black and I’ve been nervous of Roos ever since. They’re almost 5 weeks now I think (TSC didn’t know hatch date) and for the last week several of them are exhibiting Roo like behavior, jumping at each other spurs first (though they obviously don’t have spurs yet). They are feathering out but I don’t see super distinct differences in coloring yet, except maybe 1 might be darker than the other 3?

Let me know what you think, but I think:

1. Roo (the largest / tallest / chunky legs / attitude for days / maybe subtle red tint to comb appearing)

2 / 3. I get 2 and 3 confused because they look similar and move around a lot but I think at least one of them is a too because of the jumping spurs first they do with # 1. One of them has solid white flight feathers which I didn’t know could happen with the breed.

4. Pullet. Darker than the others, calmer than the others. When I hold her the others run over and get all up in my business / try to peck my fingers.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Hey there, I got 4 barred rock pullets from TSC, I was cautious of accidental roos and tried to pick pullet looking chicks based on head spot but then noticed a lot of the baby chicks had gray looking down instead of dark black and I’ve been nervous of Roos ever since. They’re almost 5 weeks now I think (TSC didn’t know hatch date) and for the last week several of them are exhibiting Roo like behavior, jumping at each other spurs first (though they obviously don’t have spurs yet). They are feathering out but I don’t see super distinct differences in coloring yet, except maybe 1 might be darker than the other 3?

Let me know what you think, but I think:

1. Roo (the largest / tallest / chunky legs / attitude for days / maybe subtle red tint to comb appearing)

2 / 3. I get 2 and 3 confused because they look similar and move around a lot but I think at least one of them is a too because of the jumping spurs first they do with # 1. One of them has solid white flight feathers which I didn’t know could happen with the breed.

4. Pullet. Darker than the others, calmer than the others. When I hold her the others run over and get all up in my business / try to peck my fingers.

 

[JedJackson]

They are pretty young, but I see no signs of any of them being a male at this point. Behavior isn't a good indicator at that age because females will act just like males.

One thing I noticed is that their legs don't seem to have any yellow in them. Maybe it's just the photos, or maybe they are another breed like cuckoo Marans. Not sure. If you look at the skin on the undersides of their feet, you should be able to tell. It should be yellowish in barred rocks, but white or pinkish white in cuckoo Marans.

 

[MysteryChicken]

They're Females.

Behavior means nothing, pullets can be just as assertive as males.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

They're Females.

Behavior means nothing, pullets can be just as assertive as males.

Oh okay! That makes sense. My 2 yr old hens didn’t do that as chicks learned something new!

 

[Shelbysoobs]

They're Females.

Behavior means nothing, pullets can be just as assertive as males.

They are pretty young, but I see no signs of any of them being a male at this point. Behavior isn't a good indicator at that age because females will act just like males.

One thing I noticed is that their legs don't seem to have any yellow in them. Maybe it's just the photos, or maybe they are another breed like cuckoo Marans. Not sure. If you look at the skin on the undersides of their feet, you should be able to tell. It should be yellowish in barred rocks, but white or pinkish white in cuckoo Marans.

They do have yellow in their legs but it didn’t photograph well because the brooder is darker. They are definitely yellow on the undersides of their feet I have marans in the incubator so I look forward to seeing the difference when they hatch.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Oh okay! That makes sense. My 2 yr old hens didn’t do that as chicks learned something new!

Every batch is different.

 

[Predoggg]

All pullets so far. I did not see any red in the combs. Keep an eye on the combs if you see any red developing. It will come in at the base first.

 

[MysteryChicken]

All pullets so far. I did not see any red in the combs. Keep an eye on the combs if you see any red developing. It will come in at the base first.

For Barred Rocks the males are lighter in color. Combs aren't always necessary for sexing them.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Update around 8 weeks.. this one has a red comb, the others don’t have any this red but some appear to be starting to turn red. I am not noticing a drastic difference in the barring. Would you assume the barring is unreliable if they possibly arent “pure bred” by TSC hatchery? Would you go off red comb or barring? The one standing on the 2x4 seems to have an early developing comb for 8 weeks which I understand means roo.. to be honest they’ve been developing quicker than the other 3 in size too.

Second is all 4 mixed in their flock of 9.. that’s the only pic I have of all of the barred rocks together.