Barred rock or black sex link? Please help

[rebrascora]

Can we see photos of all 3?
I agree that the comb development on the one you have posted photos of, suggests it may be male particularly at such a young age.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I would like individual photos in a couple of weeks.

Your birds (on my monitor) look to have white/grey legs/feet. The barring is not really clear yet, so it is quite possible you have Cuckoo Marans, which do have a bit more comb on the girls that can confuse. Marans boys take off really early, so in a couple of weeks you can see large red combs on them.

I agree with other posters. If you purchased this time of year in the US, at a feed store, they were locally hatched. That means likely a backyard breeder, so they could be a mix of anything barred/cuckoo.

It is possible you even stumbled onto an sexing pattern where the girl is single barred and the boys double barred.

But time will tell.

I don't think you have Barred Rocks, as their legs are clearly yellow with some black wash. Nor do I think you have Black Sex Links as their legs are fairly dark grey or even black looking with yellow as chicks.

I think you may have Cuckoo Marans, or a Marans mix, or some other home brew that will take a few weeks to sort out.

So don't panic yet.

May I recommend also that you check with this website before purchasing any chicks anywhere...I've had store clerks tell me to my face that they had something that clearly was not true. They are not trained in poultry in any way. It is really good to know chick down of the breeds you desire.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKBabyChicks.html

LofMc

 

[Prettychick44]

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Can we see photos of all 3?
I agree that the comb development on the one you have posted photos of, suggests it may be male particularly at such a young age.

Yes I took a few more pictures of them

This one is my runt, Libby. She's smaller and has one crooked toe but she chirps and plays and eats just fine with the others...

This one is Lola, she was originally all black when i bought her.

And this is Lucy. She is my wild one and my husband has decided to re name her Lucifer!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm sorry I can't see much with you holding them other than the combs are fine...not looking roo-ish yet.

As to coloring...the first appears to be a Cuckoo..grey/white legs with a bit of pink between the toes...it may be the sofa she is standing on, but could be the more upright stance of Marans.

The second could be as well, but I can't see her as well with blur, and I can't see her feet.

The third has more of a barring appearance, but not strongly, and I can't see the feet.

Are you sure the 3rd was *all black* as a chick? With that much barring, there would have been a white head spot.

I don't think these are pure bred. I think they are somebody's backyard specials.

With that in mind, nothing screaming roo right now. Combs are not red at all, and still within the norm of female. Don't go by barring/cuckooing, light/dark, as these are not likely purebred so the colorings will be off making it pretty impossible to tell gender from appearances.

If I had to guess...I'd say the top 2 are likely female and the bottom Lucifer is likely male.

Time will tell.

LofMc

 

[Prettychick44]

I'm sorry I can't see much with you holding them other than the combs are fine...not looking roo-ish yet.

As to coloring...the first appears to be a Cuckoo..grey/white legs with a bit of pink between the toes...it may be the sofa she is standing on, but could be the more upright stance of Marans.

The second could be as well, but I can't see her as well with blur, and I can't see her feet.

The third has more of a barring appearance, but not strongly, and I can't see the feet.

Are you sure the 3rd was *all black* as a chick? With that much barring, there would have been a white head spot.

I don't think these are pure bred. I think they are somebody's backyard specials.

With that in mind, nothing screaming roo right now. Combs are not red at all, and still within the norm of female. Don't go by barring/cuckooing, light/dark, as these are not likely purebred so the colorings will be off making it pretty impossible to tell gender from appearances.

If I had to guess...I'd say the top 2 are likely female and the bottom Lucifer is likely male.

Time will tell.

LofMc

I know they were so hyper when i was trying to take those pictures... And the camera is low quality.. But if they do turn out to be roos how long do I have till I need to Seperate them? I don't want them getting lonely but I also dont want to come home from work to a hurt chick!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I know they were so hyper when i was trying to take those pictures... And the camera is low quality.. But if they do turn out to be roos how long do I have till I need to Seperate them? I don't want them getting lonely but I also dont want to come home from work to a hurt chick!

Nobody will get hurt anytime soon.

You can wait until about 9 to 10 weeks of age. By then, the roosters will likely be crowing so a noise issue if you have neighbors, though some crow later....and by then it should be very obvious who is male and female.

It isn't until sexual maturity that the males get pesky....about 18 to 24 weeks of age, depending upon breed....sometimes about 6 months of age.

At that time, they can be hard on young pullets, and often (but not always) need separating.

LofMc

 

[Prettychick44]

Nobody will get hurt anytime soon.

You can wait until about 9 to 10 weeks of age. By then, the roosters will likely be crowing so a noise issue if you have neighbors, though some crow later....and by then it should be very obvious who is male and female.

It isn't until sexual maturity that the males get pesky....about 18 to 24 weeks of age, depending upon breed....sometimes about 6 months of age.

At that time, they can be hard on young pullets, and often (but not always) need separating.

LofMc

Okay thank you for all your help and advice i really appreciate it!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You are welcome.

Post photos in a few weeks to let us see their development.

LofMc

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Post photos in a few weeks to let us see their development.

X2

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It isn't until sexual maturity that the males get pesky....about 18 to 24 weeks of age, depending upon breed....sometimes about 6 months of age.

I agree... but I had ONE Silkie boy who tried to start mating and was crowing by 8 weeks old!