Barred rock puller or roo?

You can't tell for sure based on the color because everyone breeds for different coloration. If you are showing male BR's you'd probably breed lighter, and the opposite for females. But it just depends on the line. Production hens can be anywhere in between, but I think they do tend to be darker most places.

I don't see any reason to doubt the seller at this point. Watch out for saddle/hackle/sickle feathers, and of course crowing. But I'd assume female until then.

BTW, Your pic is low resolution and has bright light washing out the hackle area, which could be making people lean towards male.
 
Last edited:
Oh, weird, on my iPhone the images do not appear as low res, and that bird is much lighter than I though. Even though there is washout on the top of the neck, the bottom shows very thin black bars. So despite what I said earlier, almost no females should be that light. Yes it has a small comb/wattles for a male of that age, but I'd be really surprised if it was a female being that light.
 
..idk. Despite all the roo guesses, I'm sticking with Hen. I think saddle feathers and hackle feathers would be coming in by now, I would look for those. They look like streamers, much tighter and smaller bands then the rest of the barred feathering. Sharp and precise. I see no evidence in them. Although I'm big on the light = male and dark = female, this one just doesn't scream male to me. Btw, my 2 barred rock hen's feet are just as big and manly as my roos. I was just out there and looking at them. The only difference is that they have a faint black smear down the front of their legs and toys and his are pure yellow. I think maybe this chicken is a mix, or low quality stock, so some of the normal barred rock identification marks aren't as precise. Keep us posted on this thread, I'd be interested in knowing what s/he is for sure when it starts crowing or laying!
 
..idk. Despite all the roo guesses, I'm sticking with Hen. I think saddle feathers and hackle feathers would be coming in by now, I would look for those. They look like  streamers, much tighter and smaller bands then the rest of the barred feathering. Sharp and precise. I see no evidence in them. Although I'm big on the light = male and dark = female, this one just doesn't scream male to me. Btw, my 2 barred rock hen's feet are just as big and manly as my roos. I was just out there and looking at them. The only difference is that they have a faint black smear down the front of their legs and toys and his are pure yellow. I think maybe this chicken is a mix, or low quality stock, so some of the normal barred rock identification marks aren't as precise. Keep us posted on this thread, I'd be interested in knowing what s/he is for sure when it starts crowing or laying!
 
Thank you all for your input! I will keep you posted when the jury is in! Hoping against the concenus. Can't have a roo would have to find a home for him.
Thanks again!
 
I had a barred rock roo and from what I can tell the light barring says rooster. Usually girls will have darker barring (I had a girl too). He might also have a growth spurt and look a lot more roo-ish in a few weeks. But overall I would have to agree with rooster.
 
Spoke to seller today expressed my concerns, he feels it would be crowing by now. Also said farm he bought them from had Dominques also. Do you think this bird could be a mix?
400
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom