Barred Rock Roo/Hen differences?

[TigerLilly]

I have 2 brs that were supposed to be pullets; got them at about 14 weeks. They are now roughly 18 weeks. Thought one of them laid its 1st egg yesterday, but wake up this morning to hear CROWING...tried to sit & watch to see which one was doing it, but of course they clammed up!
How do I tell by looking at the physical characteristics if one is a roo? If I need to take pics, what do I take them of (head, feet, whole chicken)?

 

[stanglover2001]

Try to get a picture of the head with a good shot of the comb/wattles, a photo of the whole body from a side view to see the saddle and hackle feathers, a whole body photo should also show the feet and the tail feathers.

 

[Mervin]

There are many threads on here about masculine hens trying to crow. I think it's especially common in the absence of a rooster.

As for the differences, the most notable is the comb and wattles. At 18 weeks, there should be a very noticeable difference b/t pullets and cockerels in that respect. There should also be a difference in coloring. Pullets/hens would appear darker, think black with white stripes. Whereas cockerels would white with black stripes. Pullets would have a dark splash on the front of there legs and roos would be larger with a more erect posture at that age.

 

[Happy Chooks]

They're usually pretty easy to tell by feather coloring. (there are exceptions)

Male:

Adult hen (hatchery quality):

 

[speckledhen]

Females are much darker than males 99% of the time. All males, not just BRs, have a fringe of skinny, shiny saddle feathers that hang off the back just before the tail area and females do not. Barred Rocks can be sexed at hatch.

Female:

Male:

 

[TigerLilly]

Havent had a chance to get pics (running errands), but from the ones posted, IT is dark like the female but has the roo tailfeathers like the male. I'm so confused! Will get pics later this afternoon, hopefully.
thanks to everyone who has chimed in so far.

 

[TigerLilly]

Ok, here are some pics. Sorry for the blurry ones.

So what's the verdict? Do I have a LOUISE or a LOUIE?

 

[stanglover2001]

Kinda looks like a louie with the saddle feathers, don't worry Barred Rocks are hard to sex sometimes. I have 2 my neighbor swears up and down are hens because the legs are a light gray color instead of yellow

but I'm not sure they're a lil on the dark color scale but they also look boyish

 

[NonnasBabies]

With those tail feathers it definetly looks like a roo!!

Missi

 

[Red&Yellow]

Big ole boy!