Barred Rock Pullets, how right is TSC?

polka_dottie

Chirping
May 23, 2020
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We split the minimum buy at TSC with friends on Sunday (trying to keep to the local ordinance on chicken population sizes) and after my 50/50 success on my Buff Orp straight run picks, I'm curious how accurate Tractor Supply suppliers are with sexing chicks.
These Barred Rocks are somewhere around 2 weeks old. Two have tail feathers and one does not. The one without tail feathers has stockier legs, is slightly larger than the other two, possibly larger comb and more white on the wings. This is my first go around with chickens so having already accidentally picking a roo has me a bit freaked (we can only have 1, per ordinance but really, we are pretty rural so only the immediate neighbors would know; who on one side have chickens and on the other grew up around chickens and don't mind).
Offending Chick: "Chocolate Frosted Doughnut" aka CFD
IMG_20200523_202335789.jpg

And the others progress with tail feathers:
IMG_20200523_202430612.jpg
 
We split the minimum buy at TSC with friends on Sunday (trying to keep to the local ordinance on chicken population sizes) and after my 50/50 success on my Buff Orp straight run picks, I'm curious how accurate Tractor Supply suppliers are with sexing chicks.
These Barred Rocks are somewhere around 2 weeks old. Two have tail feathers and one does not. The one without tail feathers has stockier legs, is slightly larger than the other two, possibly larger comb and more white on the wings. This is my first go around with chickens so having already accidentally picking a roo has me a bit freaked (we can only have 1, per ordinance but really, we are pretty rural so only the immediate neighbors would know; who on one side have chickens and on the other grew up around chickens and don't mind).
Offending Chick: "Chocolate Frosted Doughnut" aka CFD
View attachment 2156446
And the others progress with tail feathers:
View attachment 2156448
Not all pullets grow equally. I have a Heritage Plymouth Barred Rock that took for ever to get her feathers.
Your's aren't Heritage Rocks though, but growth might be random with hatchery Barred Rocks too.
 
Here is mine from a couple of weeks ago, and I was sure he was a roo then. When you see him now, it’s really obvious.
Here are some photos of him from 2 1/2 weeks ago, and today.

To me, yours looks like mine did. Same features...stocky legs, a little more comb, more prominent white lines in the wing, a little more gray than the others..
 

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I am definitely no expert, but went through my own BR dilemma about pullet vs cockerel. Mostly here to bump your post because it seems a bit early to tell to me, but others might have ideas.

I will say that my BR developed a little comb at about 3 weeks, and I was convinced she was a cockerel. But the comb has stayed the same size and her head has kind of grown into it. I feel pretty solid at 6 weeks that she's a pullet, but definitely went through a whole couple weeks of worry about it. It's hard to be patient, but apparently this whole 'nature' thing works on its own time.

I found this post helpful for knowing what to look for:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sexing-5-week-old-barred-rocks.768647/

You may also want to take a few more pictures in more natural light to share, especially of the legs and the spot on the backs of their heads. That may help some of the experts give you more information. But ultimately, I think you're going to have to wait a few more weeks to get a better sense of their genders. Hope that's helpful. Good luck!

btw Chocolate Frosted Doughnut is a spectacular name for a chicken.
 
Hi everyone! I popped a daylight bulb in the brooder to get a few better photos (Fun Fact: baby chicks like toddler humans love a selfie). CFD's comb is now red, legs still stocky, getting some back feathers but the tail is still fluffy. S/he is clearly more noticeable among the other two, so you shouldn't have any issues seeing the delta. So I know time will tell, but I've got my $5 on roo.
 

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Looking at the combs--you have a cockerel.
Looking at the extra white in the feathers--you have a cockerel.
(Yes, I'm talking about the same chick. I think the other two are probably pullets.)
:D
 
Looking at the combs--you have a cockerel.
Looking at the extra white in the feathers--you have a cockerel.
(Yes, I'm talking about the same chick. I think the other two are probably pullets.)
:D

Here's hoping the other two are pullets as advertised ;)
From my straight run Buff Orps, I also had one roo and he's a good looking fella.
 

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