Black Sex Link (Help me confirm we have a rooster)

[adkins64]

Hi! We started our backyard chicken adventure back in late March, and even though our hens are not quite old enough to lay yet, we are sad that we think our favorite chicken is a rooster. Two of our chickens are black sex links, and the most friendly one (largest as well) has started crowing at 5am. It didn't sound like a rooster crow for awhile, and still doesn't (maybe that's denial). We just assumed since this is our largest chicken that is clearly at the top of the pecking order it was a case of a hen trying out the rooster crow. As we do more research we are becoming more confident that we have a rooster and not a hen. In the photo you will see two chickens with combs (which both hens and roosters of the black sex link variety have). All of our other chickens that are the same breed look very similar. Our two black sex link chickens though look significantly different. Different enough we think we have a rooster. We were confident that when we bought them neither had the "white dot" that indicates a rooster, but maybe we made a mistake! Can anyone help confirm the larger chicken with more brown than black is a black sexlink rooster?

Other chickens in the photos we are confident are hens are (2) brown leghorns, (1) Ameraucana, and (3) cinnamon queens.

 

[Skyle]

I can't see the photo, sorry. Would you mind reposting it, please?

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi! We started our backyard chicken adventure back in late March, and even though our hens are not quite old enough to lay yet, we are sad that we think our favorite chicken is a rooster. Two of our chickens are black sex links, and the most friendly one (largest as well) has started crowing at 5am. It didn't sound like a rooster crow for awhile, and still doesn't (maybe that's denial). We just assumed since this is our largest chicken that is clearly at the top of the pecking order it was a case of a hen trying out the rooster crow. As we do more research we are becoming more confident that we have a rooster and not a hen. In the photo you will see two chickens with combs (which both hens and roosters of the black sex link variety have). All of our other chickens that are the same breed look very similar. Our two black sex link chickens though look significantly different. Different enough we think we have a rooster. We were confident that when we bought them neither had the "white dot" that indicates a rooster, but maybe we made a mistake! Can anyone help confirm the larger chicken with more black and brown is a black sex link rooster?

Sometimes stores mix up breeds. Yeah, I can’t see photos either. It sounds like you have a cockerel though.

 

[adkins64]

I can't see the photo, sorry. Would you mind reposting it, please?

Skyle, they didn't upload initially, but they should be up now!

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi! We started our backyard chicken adventure back in late March, and even though our hens are not quite old enough to lay yet, we are sad that we think our favorite chicken is a rooster. Two of our chickens are black sex links, and the most friendly one (largest as well) has started crowing at 5am. It didn't sound like a rooster crow for awhile, and still doesn't (maybe that's denial). We just assumed since this is our largest chicken that is clearly at the top of the pecking order it was a case of a hen trying out the rooster crow. As we do more research we are becoming more confident that we have a rooster and not a hen. In the photo you will see two chickens with combs (which both hens and roosters of the black sex link variety have). All of our other chickens that are the same breed look very similar. Our two black sex link chickens though look significantly different. Different enough we think we have a rooster. We were confident that when we bought them neither had the "white dot" that indicates a rooster, but maybe we made a mistake! Can anyone help confirm the larger chicken with more black and brown is a black sex link rooster?

Both are cockerels…

 

[cherrynberry]

Hi! We started our backyard chicken adventure back in late March, and even though our hens are not quite old enough to lay yet, we are sad that we think our favorite chicken is a rooster. Two of our chickens are black sex links, and the most friendly one (largest as well) has started crowing at 5am. It didn't sound like a rooster crow for awhile, and still doesn't (maybe that's denial). We just assumed since this is our largest chicken that is clearly at the top of the pecking order it was a case of a hen trying out the rooster crow. As we do more research we are becoming more confident that we have a rooster and not a hen. In the photo you will see two chickens with combs (which both hens and roosters of the black sex link variety have). All of our other chickens that are the same breed look very similar. Our two black sex link chickens though look significantly different. Different enough we think we have a rooster. We were confident that when we bought them neither had the "white dot" that indicates a rooster, but maybe we made a mistake! Can anyone help confirm the larger chicken with more black and brown is a black sex link rooster?

Also…they are not black sexlinks

 

[Skyle]

Skyle, they didn't upload initially, but they should be up now!

I see it now, thank you. Yes, looks like a cockerel.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Not black Sex-links. Black Sex-link cockerels are Barred.

I'm thinking the first maybe a Midnight Majesty Marans, the black one.

Not sure about the red one.

Both are cockerels.

 

[adkins64]

Here are a few more photos. We did purchase the two in question from Tractor Supply, so maybe even though the chicks looked like black sex links, they really were not. I wouldn't be surprised. From what I have read, hens can have combs and wattles as well, they just are not as large when the same breed. Everyone here seems to be confident that both of the chickens we thought were black sex links are some other breed and cockerels. We are pretty confident both of the chickens in the photos with more prominent combs and wattles are the same breed, which is why we think that just the more brown one that has started crowing is a cockerel. I appreciate the replies!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Here are a few more photos. We did purchase the two in question from Tractor Supply, so maybe even though the chicks looked like black sex links, they really were not. I wouldn't be surprised. From what I have read, hens can have combs and wattles as well, they just are not as large when the same breed. Everyone here seems to be confident that both of the chickens we thought were black sex links are some other breed and cockerels. We are pretty confident both of the chickens in the photos with more prominent combs and wattles are the same breed, which is why we think that just the more brown one that has started crowing is a cockerel. I appreciate the replies!

Sorry, they are both cockerels. They have pointy male saddle feathers and dark red wing patches. Agree the black one looks to some sort of Marans (without the feathered legs). Second one is likely not crowing as he is not the dominant male.