Barred Rock Roo or Hen?

Jun 27, 2025
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I picked up a mix of pullets from a friend. A turken, a bantam, two Brahma mixes and a barred rock.
Fast forward a few weeks, and three of them have started crowing, the turken, bantam, and one Brahma.

I only have the one barred rock in the group, so no others to compare coloring. I have a feeling “Gemma” is a roo too, but really hoping it’s a hen 😅

What are your thoughts?
 

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Sorry, I think it's a cockerel. I think I see some pointy saddle feathers coming in and the lighter coloring suggests it might have double barring indicating a male.

Do you know how many weeks old approximately they are?
 
Unfortunately that is without a doubt male, he's double barred. Double barring can only happen in males, the barring gene is carried on the sex chromosomes (Z) and male chickens (ZZ) can get two copies while females (ZW) can only carry one. Having two copies widens the white bars, double barred roosters look like white chickens with black stripes while single barred hens look like black chickens with white stripes.
 
Unfortunately that is without a doubt male, he's double barred. Double barring can only happen in males, the barring gene is carried on the sex chromosomes (Z) and male chickens (ZZ) can get two copies while females (ZW) can only carry one. Having two copies widens the white bars, double barred roosters look like white chickens with black stripes while single barred hens look like black chickens with white stripes.
1751062656221.jpg

Males end up looking more grey with double barring.
 

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