Barred Rock Hen or Roo?

[rileycassandra]

Hi! I have two barred rock that look almost identical. They’re about 4 1/2 weeks old. Possibly a bit older (by a few days.) Can anyone tell me their guesses on if this one is a hen or a roo?

 

[JedJackson]

It's a cockerel.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

The coloring looks like a roo to me.

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

X2

 

[Tookie]

Yes, that's a male.

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

Rooster

 

[Chubbicthe2nd]

Can you explain how you know it's a male? I want to learn.

 

[Tookie]

Can you explain how you know it's a male? I want to learn.

If you look at the barring its pretty light, in males they have much lighter barring compared to females. So that's one way to tell. The other way to tell is by the comb development. He's got a bit too much comb and wattle there for it to be a female, especially at 4.5 weeks old.

 

[WingItRanch]

Can you explain how you know it's a male? I want to learn.

Males have double white barring so appear lighter- sometimes almost grey if you stand back. Basically a pullet will have black, white, black, white. Cockerel will have black, white, white, black, white, white.