Barred Rocks Hen or Roos?

[nessa1317]

Hello, i just got Barred Rocks, i have 7 that are i believe about 3-4 wks some are bigger than others. Then i have 8 little ones that are about a week old im guessing. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if they notice what gender these chicks are? Heres some pics. Also if anyone can tell me any tips on distinguishing hen or roo. Thanks heres some pics.

Heres my baby chicks

 

[nurse_turtle]

Those chicks in your last pic... you're positive they are barred-rock? Barred rock chicks should have a white mark on their heads. Those chicks look more like black astrolorps or jersey giants. Normally BR hens have darker legs and a smaller defined white dot on their heads whereas the roosters will have yellower legs and a scattered, less defined white area on their heads. This only applies if the chicks are pure bred. Of course the combs on the males will be larger and pink up much sooner than the females.

 

[nessa1317]

actually i think only a few may be barred rocks maybe. When i got them i was told they were black cochin and they are not. I bought at an auction and couldnt really look at them.When i got home they deff didnt look like they should. Im going to look up those breeds thanks. There might be a few barred rocks in the little ones. Thanks for the info im going to look at htem know, ive never had the BR before but im hoping some are hens!

 

[Fred's Hens]

In the first few frames, the birds indeed, look to be BR. The sex is quite easy to tell in another week or two. They are still a bit young, but at 5 weeks, the difference in a pullet and a cockerel is night and day. The cockerels are bright white marked, and already, the combs will pink up and little, tiny red wattles will appear. The pullets will show no wattles, be darker in basic feathering with less vibrant bars, almost just dots. Their combs will stay dull yellow all the way toward maturity when suddenly, they too will turn red.


The chicks in the last frame are not BR

.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

actually i think only a few may be barred rocks maybe. When i got them i was told they were black cochin and they are not. I bought at an auction and couldnt really look at them.When i got home they deff didnt look like they should. Im going to look up those breeds thanks. There might be a few barred rocks in the little ones. Thanks for the info im going to look at htem know, ive never had the BR before but im hoping some are hens!

Yep, those full black ones look like Polish, the tuft on their heads gives it away. As Fred's Hens posted that picture below, the one closer to the top looks like a cockerel. So when you start seeing signs like that, you'll who's he and who's she.

 

[nessa1317]

In the first few frames, the birds indeed, look to be BR. The sex is quite easy to tell in another week or two. They are still a bit young, but at 5 weeks, the difference in a pullet and a cockerel is night and day. The cockerels are bright white marked, and already, the combs will pink up and little, tiny red wattles will appear. The pullets will show no wattles, be darker in basic feathering with less vibrant bars, almost just dots. Their combs will stay dull yellow all the way toward maturity when suddenly, they too will turn red.


The chicks in the last frame are not BR

.

I can def see the difference in those two. Then i should be able to see differences in the chicks in a couple weeks. With the little ones im not sure ill have to post some more pics bc i think they are mixed some look like barred only a couple of 8 and others all black and few other, but they might be only about almost a week not to sure same with big guys. How old are those you poster now 5 wks? Also when Jersey said Polish chicks, i was looking them up they are the ones with the fluffy heads or tuft, but mine are not all that fluffy like i saw. I will post more

 

[nessa1317]

Heres some more pics of the babies