Barred Rock Sexing- Please Help!

[GentlyLiving]

Hello everyone. I know there are some really experienced Barred Rock people out there that will be able to tell me for sure if these are pullets or cockerels. I only have the two BRs so I don't have much to compare to, but they look much lighter than I expected and I am getting nervous. I got them from a local store and they only carry sexed pullets, so I can't believe that I had the bad luck to pick two roos. They are about four weeks old. They have much lighter tummies than backs. They both have a bit of grey on the feet, but not very dark. I don't want to get rid of them until I am really sure, but I also REALLY can't have anyone start crowing because I am pretty sure I am not allowed to have a rooster. So can anyone tell me... roos or hens? Also, when to barred rocks generally start to crow? I have heard everything from three weeks to three months. Thanks for the help!

Chick #1




Chick #2

 

[Aeropennchick]

The barring on the males that I have seen on this site at that age was more uniform. I can't see the second one too well because the light is so bright, but I think the first one is probably a pullet.


I found this on another post - hope it helps!

100% pullet. yellow comb, no wattles, black streak on leg front and dark feathering. The roos are pretty easy to spot at that age.
That said, sometimes a sneaker gets in there because of questionable breeding.

 

[GentlyLiving]

Thanks! That is nice to hear! Their bodies look about the same, the second one just has fewer feathers in on his/her head. I have seen this picture before, it just seems like mine are in between the two

 

[GentlyLiving]

Can anyone else weigh in? I'd love to have a bunch of opinions

 

[Coop Deville]

I don't think hens ever get that silver. But then again, I've never seen silvering on just the front half of a barred rock. Are you sure about the bloodlines?

 

[texas75563]

I don't see the wattles on them thats a good sign. You will be able to see wattles if you look close. I can't tell the color of the combs from the pictures. Are the combs a yellowish color? From what I see, I'm saying pullets. Say the combs are yellowish and its a definate.

Coop Deville is right. Front is more like penciling instead of barring.

 

[hearts34]

I have been told on day old barred rock chicks that if there is a little white spot on the back part of the head, it's a hen.

That doesn't help you much.LOL On chicks the size of yours, if the comb on one is much larger than the rest, and wattles below beak are showing much at all, he's a roo. If small combs and little or no wattles below beak, I would lean towards them being hens.

 

[GentlyLiving]

Totally not sure about the bloodlines. These came from a local feed store. Any guesses what they are if not barred rocks?

 

[GentlyLiving]

Yellow combs. Maybe a little pinkish on the head just under the comb (like where it attaches?). Oh I would soooo love if these are really hens! They are totally sweet!

 

[texas75563]

Barred rocks both the males and females have the white spots on their heads. One is supposed to be more defined and the other blotchier. I'm not sure which 1 is which. The black sex links, the males have the white spot on their heads.