Barred rock help

[Slwelker]

We have two barred rocks who should’ve been sexed at purchase from hatchery. They are roughly 22 weeks old but as you can see big difference in comb and wattle. Neither are laying eggs but can’t help but wonder if we have a rooster on our hands? No crowing from “her” yet either. Want to know what we might have in store if we perhaps got a rooster.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I'm very new to chickens. But at 22 weeks, they both look like pullets to me. Maybe the one with the bigger comb is closer to laying her first egg?

 

[sourland]

Both are pullets. One is simply maturing more rapidly than the other.

 

[redinator]

We have two barred rocks who should’ve been sexed at purchase from hatchery. They are roughly 22 weeks old but as you can see big difference in comb and wattle. Neither are laying eggs but can’t help but wonder if we have a rooster on our hands? No crowing from “her” yet either. Want to know what we might have in store if we perhaps got a rooster.

I've read a few threads on here saying the barring on 'sexable' chicks from hatcheries isn't always clear. The first one looks male to me since he looks to be a bit lighter (more grey) than the second. I don't have barred rocks though, so wait for some with more experience with them to reply.

Edit: I typed too slow, lol.

 

[AshVau22]

Pullets

 

[kattabelly]

I've read a few threads on here saying the barring on 'sexable' chicks from hatcheries isn't always clear. The first one looks male to me since he looks to be a bit lighter (more grey) than the second. I don't have barred rocks though, so wait for some with more experience with them to reply.

Edit: I typed too slow, lol.

If they were younger I would've said that was a cockerel but male hackle and saddle feathers should be clearly visible by 22 weeks.

I have better photos but this is a similar quality and you can still see them quite clearly here. He's 19 weeks old in this photo iirc.

 

[redinator]

If they were younger I would've said that was a cockerel but male hackle and saddle feathers should be clearly visible by 22 weeks.

I have better photos but this is a similar quality and you can still see them quite clearly here. He's 19 weeks old in this photo iirc.
View attachment 4237074

I did forget to look for those, thanks.

 

[kattabelly]

I did forget to look for those, thanks.

The colour and the difference in comb & wattles had me staring and zooming in for quite a while thinking I must just be missing them because the image is a bit blurry, to be fair!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Here's a pair. The color difference is quite obvious. The second photo shows a rooster on the left with two hens.

 

[kattabelly]

Here's a pair. The color difference is quite obvious.

Not disagreeing with you that this can be a good way to tell, and definitely not trying to make myself out to be any kind of expert on the breed, but I think it isn't always quite as obvious as that? Especially if you're looking at the natural variation between several birds of the same sex but don't have any of the opposite sex to compare to.

Don't want to use other folk's photos without permission, so these are just mine, but I've noticed similarly small differences in colour in photos of serious breeders' birds too.

There's one Barred Plymouth Rock pullet in each of these pictures.