Anyone sure of the gender?

[mjuenem]

It was a stray running around the woods. people were giving it water but weren't sure what to feed. We were asked if it was ours (it wasn't) but we said we could give it a safe place till we found a home. I do not want a rooster but another hen would be nice. Am not sure of the age but it looks young (although it is nearly as tall as the rest of our 2-3yr olds. No sign of spurs. Feet are big and are partially black on the front side. It has slipped into our all hen lineup about in the middle between the bantams and the full sized hens. It continually jumps the largest bantam and straddles her while holding on to the feathers behind her head. Our largest hen (#1) ignores her and she doesn't try anything but the 2nd full-sized hen down is always challenging it and the hen always wins - they have done some size ups and chest bumping. Pretty funny actually. Any ideas?

 

[hdowden]

200% cockerel theres some nice saddles coming in and appears to be a barred rock

 

[mjuenem]

Thanks for the assessment. It is obviously a barred rock, and in the back of my mind I was wishing for a hen but it sure looked like a cock.

Anybody near Putnam County NY want a barred rock soon-to-be rooster?

Mark

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I see the saddle feathers too. cockerel

 

[hdowden]

well its the coloring that says barred rock as black sex link cockerels look almost the same but they seem to always have a yellow tint to to there hackles and saddles

 

[stellacat]

Totally a Barred plymouth rock cockerel, pointed hackle feathers, big comb and wattle.

 

[donrae]

Cockeral. Sounds like your larger bantam's laying fertile eggs!

 

[BlueCamas]

1000% cockerel. I'd say Black sex link, I see a few solid black feathers in his saddle.

 

[bloom_ss]

It's definitely a boy, but I'm not so certain it is a Barred Rock. It could just be the way the picture looks on my screen, but I think it IS a Black Sex Link. For one, it isn't as light as a BR cockerel would be, and two, because I do think I see a bit of color on it besides just black and white. The wing and saddle feathers are not just barred black and white. I just gave away my BR cockerel and he had more uniform barring and was lighter than that one.

 

[mjuenem]

I went back and looked. My camera makes those saddle feathers look darker than they are. They are more grey than black. It does look however that there is one small turquoise feather near the saddles (one on each side). Update: The turquoise-looking feathers are Iridescence caused by the sunlight hitting at an angle.
Mark