Barred rock or black sex link? Please help

[Prettychick44]

About 2 weeks ago I bought my first chicks at about a week and 4 days old already.. So they said. The girl at the store informed me they were all female and they were black sex links... I got 3. Two with white spots and one all black. My friend informed me that if they were indeed sex links that they sold me 2 males and 1 female. Im hoping its just a misunderstanding ! And my all black now has some signs of barring as well..

 

[lazy gardener]

Your friend is correct.

 

[JedJackson]

Would a feed store sell sex-link cockerels, though? I think they are probably something else, like barred rocks, but if they are indeed sex-links then they are both male. And even if they aren't sex links, there is an awful lot of comb on both of them, so I would guess cockerels regardless.

 

[Prettychick44]

Wow thats so disappointing to hear that first picture WAS my all black girl in the beginning... What are my chances of getting all 3 males? Unless they really just wanted to get rid of them... I love them but the biggest two do compete with each other a lot... They don't bother my runt to much

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree that that black one is not a BSL. It's possible that they are Barred Rocks. Usually, male barred rocks are much lighter in the barring, and lighter coloring on the fronts of their legs and tops of toes. The comb development on the black one has me bamboozled. Feather pattern looks female, but comb looks male.

Check out this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sight-sexing-barred-plymouth-rock-chicks-at-hatch.798635/

 

[Prettychick44]

I agree that that black one is not a BSL. It's possible that they are Barred Rocks. Usually, male barred rocks are much lighter in the barring, and lighter coloring on the fronts of their legs and tops of toes. The comb development on the black one has me bamboozled. Feather pattern looks female, but comb looks male.

Check out this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sight-sexing-barred-plymouth-rock-chicks-at-hatch.798635/

Im praying for 3 barred females then! Thank you for the help

 

[drumstick diva]

Barred rocks have yellow legs (males) and black wash over yellow legs (females). Legs on yours look pinkish /white

 

[debid]

Seeing faint barring on the all black one now and white skin, I'm guessing you bought a barred hybrid. That seems to be quite common this year.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

About 2 weeks ago I bought my first chicks at about a week and 4 days old already.. So they said. The girl at the store informed me they were all female and they were black sex links... I got 3. Two with white spots and one all black. My friend informed me that if they were indeed sex links that they sold me 2 males and 1 female. Im hoping its just a misunderstanding ! And my all black now has some signs of barring as well..

Hi, welcome to BYC!

What I wonder is... where did the feed store get them from?

My LFS will often sell chicks from local "breeders", and not too many feed stores are ordering chicks this time of year. Maybe a local person who thinks they are breeding sex links but isn't good at identifying. Plus even hatcheries make mistakes.

Yes, a feed store will sell sex linked cockerels. Though that's what it usually is labeled. People buy them for eating. Also a feed store is ONLY a distribution point and they can only relay what they are told by the hatchery that sent them the birds. If they were told female or even some random breed, then that's what they perpetuate. They are in no way chicken experts and often give poor advice. Yes, I would agree with your friend as well. Sex linked boys in the black variety should have a white spot on top of the head and appear barred as they age. The pullets are usually black and may grow in some copper in the neck area making some almost look like Marans.

Here's to hoping!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

They look like BRs to me.