Barred Rock Chicks ?

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Combs can start to develop in as little as a few weeks. By 8 weeks old, I think you should be able to tell what's male and what's not.

Your females should have a darker feather coloration with no red in the face.

 

[dutchbunny83]

They are barred rocks.
Boys are lighter, but I've had really light pullets before.
Watch the tail feathers, girls will grow them in first as chicks.
The spots on the head-- girls will be more rounded and the boys will be more spuratic.
Obviously as they grow the males will get red in their comb and wattles first.

 

[RedneckG1rl]

I was also told that you can pick up the chicks and when you pick them up the ones that pull their legs up are hens and the ones that stick them straight out are roosters ??? Anyone ever heard that before ?

 

[dutchbunny83]

I've never heard that.
I always sex by tail feathers around a week or so old and it's been more accurate for me than the coloring.

 

[RedneckG1rl]

I am just keeping my fingers crossed for lots of hens haha ! I am enjoying having chicks though and doing incubating eggs . Would be nice if I could get a hen that would sit on some eggs and hatch them out to .

 

[dutchbunny83]

Get a silkie!!!
They are by far the best broodies.
Only downside is they are super hard to sex until they're older, I always end up with roosters!!!

And they will hatch other chicken's eggs not just their own and raise the babies like they were their own

 

[RedneckG1rl]

I personally don't like silkies I don't want to cross breed . I plan on getting another breed and probably some turkeys but plan on keeping all the breeds separated .

 

[dutchbunny83]

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE silkies!!!!
I just have the worst luck with them, the babies are sold as straight run, I get super attached because they love to snuggle, and mine always turned out to be roosters!

Barred Rocks are my second favorite! They are like puppy dogs always knocking on the slider with their beaks. My toddler would always let them in the house, I was constantly chasing them out!

 

[dutchbunny83]

From what I understand, Barred Rocks will rarely go broody.
None of mine ever did, as soon as they laid the egg they were out of the nest box

 

[RedneckG1rl]

Yea , I haven't heard much about a BR hen being broody but I do know it is possible just rare I guess. I will just keep incubating the eggs until I get a hen that decides to hatch some out . I don't want to cross breed . I know I could get a different hen and she would sit on them . I am thinking about putting up another pen and getting some buff's or maybe another breed. I am just in love with my BR breed ! They are so beautiful and docile ! I may just start looking up different breeds. I know I want a big sized bird and I love the ones that have nice coloring or patterns .