Barred Rock sexing

[Narrow Passage Farms]

I’ve posted a pic of each of our barred rocks. They were born in late March ‘18. We bought them in May. The guy was 99% sure they were pullets but we’re now wondering.
Any analysis is welcome.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are roosters.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I agree cockerel

 

[Mosey2003]

They're both cockerels. I might even question if they are actually Barred Rocks, too, especially the first pictured. Looks an awful lot like some Black Sexlink cockerels I got swindled into years ago...

 

[Narrow Passage Farms]

Chicken swindlers. The worst.

 

[Mosey2003]

Right?! I was new to chickens, and Barred Rocks. The guy told me they were pullets. I sent him pictures, and he told me, "Oh no, those are just extra-white pullets. I actually prefer them, they're prettier." Then I learned more about barred birds and sexlinks and was pretty irritated. The next year, I saw him advertising them as Barred Rock pullets again, what a jerk. He absolutely knew what he was doing.

 

[Susan Dye]

Okay, my question about sexing barred rocks, or any/all breeds. Does a cockerel always have spurs and long tail feathers?
My youngest flock member is chased around a lot by the other hens. They show him/her no respect. Bottom of the pecking order, I get that. But, he/she is now as big as the rest of the flock and has started trying to mount the others. If he/she is a roo, with no spurs and no long tail feathers, the rest of the proven hens still show no respect. They sure don't treat him/her like a roo. Is he/she just trying to move up the pecking order and get the others to accept him/her into the inner circle of the flock?

 

[Mosey2003]

Okay, my question about sexing barred rocks, or any/all breeds. Does a cockerel always have spurs and long tail feathers?
My youngest flock member is chased around a lot by the other hens. They show him/her no respect. Bottom of the pecking order, I get that. But, he/she is now as big as the rest of the flock and has started trying to mount the others. If he/she is a roo, with no spurs and no long tail feathers, the rest of the proven hens still show no respect. They sure don't treat him/her like a roo. Is he/she just trying to move up the pecking order and get the others to accept him/her into the inner circle of the flock?

They don't get really noticeable spurs until a year old sometimes. Older hens will beat the crap out of a young cockerel until he's sure of himself enough to beat them back. Especially if he's been in with them for quite awhile as a super young one. Hens can mount for dominance, but I'd bet you have a weak young cockerel is all. Take him out until he's big and crowing proud and nearly a year old, then put him back in and they'd probably all get along properly.

 

[Susan Dye]

They don't get really noticeable spurs until a year old sometimes. Older hens will beat the crap out of a young cockerel until he's sure of himself enough to beat them back. Especially if he's been in with them for quite awhile as a super young one. Hens can mount for dominance, but I'd bet you have a weak young cockerel is all. Take him out until he's big and crowing proud and nearly a year old, then put him back in and they'd probably all get along properly.

Thanks. The last two roos I had from my TS purchase were obvious roos by the time they were about 4 months old. This one has no obvious saddle or sickle feathers and not even a bump for a spur. He/she is about 6 months old. Oh, and no crowing (yet?).

 

[Mosey2003]

What breed? Standard bred, or from a store? Standard bred birds often take a lot longer to mature. Or it's a pullet. Got any pics?