Barred rocks and head spots

[Blisschick]

I'm new to Barred Rocks. I have 3 newly hatched chicks, and noticed that one has a less defined head spot than the other two. Can you tell the sex of the chicks from the head spot in Barred Rocks, or is it just one of those things where I'll have to wait and see what I have in a couple of weeks?

 

[Fred's Hens]

You get guidance but not a guarantee by the head spot. Small round head spot, black streak down the front of the legs, and black down feathers means pullet. Lighter grey down feathers and blotch head dot means roo.

That said, at 4-5 weeks, they are extremely easy to sex as the real feathers begin to come in. The roos have bright white bars, while the pullets remain rather dark looking with smaller specks of white, usually.

 

[Judy]

Fred's Hens is right on. Here it is in more detail:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=331015&p=1

 

[kathyinmo]

You can also look here for sexing tips.

http://www.dominiquechicken.com/Sexing_Dominique_chicks.html

 

[Blisschick]

Well, then, considering the given information, I very possibly have two males and a female, but the head spots aren't exactly matching up to the color of the legs. I'll let you know in a couple of weeks how it comes out.

 

[speckledhen]

I find that it works much better on hatchery Rocks than on good breeder quality lines. It's not only the head spot, though, but three traits taken together: head spot, down color and leg color.