Black Sex Link or Barred Rock?

[ChookCluck]

What is the difference between a BSL Cockerel and a BR? I have some chicks, and I don't know which they are... They are a few weeks old.

Thanks

 

[CarolynF]

Are you asking about the difference in their appearance, or the difference in their genetics?

 

[ChookCluck]

Appearence...

 

[chriscos]

Black Sex Link cockerels have a white/yellow spot on their head.

"Black Sex-Links are produced using a Barred Rock as the mother. Both sexes hatch out black, but the males have a white dot on their heads. Pullets feather out black with some red in neck feathers. Males feather out with the Barred Rock pattern along with a few red feathers. Black Sex-Links are often referred to as Rock Reds. "

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html

I don't know what a BR cockerel looks like, sorry.

 

[ChookCluck]

But I thought that Barred Rock Chicks had the spot too...

 

[cliffsdad]

The info about the bsl's vs. barred rocks is correct. When the barred rocks are babies the ones I've hatched all have white dots on their heads. Some dots cover nearly the entire head and others are smaller and more "round". From what I've gathered, you can make a pretty accurate guess which sex you have by the dot. I believe pullets are supposed to have a smaller, rounder dot and cockerels have the splotchy, big dot. Also, usually cockerels are a couple shades lighter in color. Another supposed way to sex br's is by leg color. Black legs= pullet, yellow=cockerel. Again, I don't know if this works all the time but I can usually guess pretty accurately. I think when br's aren't sexed by these methods in hatcheries, the sex linked traits become less accurate, SOMEHOW, and less conclusive. These are just my thoughts and I'm not pretending to have all the answers, but I've noticed that some of these methods CAN be counted on.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The Barred Rock male will feather out in crisp bars. The BSL male, while having barred appearance, will look more silver like, over all, because of his hybrid genetics.

As chicks, it is not as easy to discern the difference as it is later.

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
So, I have just hatched out 8 chicks and there dad is a black sex link, and their mom is a barred rock, so do I have black sex link chicks, I have 8 of the black and white chicks, and one rhode island red, and one (black sex link hen/Rhode island red rooster.)

 

[jettgirl24]

So, I have just hatched out 8 chicks and there dad is a black sex link, and their mom is a barred rock, so do I have black sex link chicks, I have 8 of the black and white chicks, and one rhode island red, and one (black sex link hen/Rhode island red rooster.)

No - sexlinks are a cross breed so they do not breed true. You can never breed a 2nd generation of sexlinks from a sexlink parent.​

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you bred a Barred Rock to a Black Sex Link, you get, basically, a barred rock. 3/4 of the chick's makeup is BR. They wouldn't be classic, show quality BR, since they aren't pure or from heritage stock, but they'll be Barred Rocks for all intents and purposes in performance and appearance.