Black Star Sex-linked pullet from Hatchery looks like Roo

[jossanne]

Look at that baby's comb and wattles. They're screaming roo...

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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That's exactly what I thought. The comb is too large for a 5 week old pullet and it was pink at 4 weeks, so I'd say your chicks is a black sexlink male, not a barred rock female.

 

[ISSOLA]

Ok - thanks for all comments and advise. I am now very convinced that Parvati (renamed Voldemort) is a boy. His wattle and comb are bigger and redder.

So I'm thinking that my planned 3 red star pullet and 2 black star pullet egg producers, are now only 3 red stars and 1 black star. The other a hatchery mistake roo (Voldy) that will be din-din in a few weeks.

BUT! OMG - I witnessed chest bumping between one of my red star pullets and the black star Roo! What DOES THAT MEAN? IS MY RED STAR PULLET Gabby a ROO TOO!!!?????

I tried to get pics of the CHEST BUMPING and BEAK LOCKING, but whenever I run down to the coop; they are at peace.

Above is Gabby--the chest bumping alleged red star pullet

Another view of Gabby

Voldy the black star ROO with his barred feathers. Looking on is Gabby, suspiciously.

When Gabby was growing up, s/he was the most shy, and she crouched quite a bit in the brooder box whenever I approached to change the feeders. S/he grew the fastest of all the chickens though. I think s/he is the biggest sized or on par with Voldy. Her/his feather coloring is different from the other red stars since her back half is mostly cream to white. The other red stars are mostly red/brown feathers with cream interspersed.

All the chickens are now 8 weeks old.

Is this CHEST BUMPING a pecking order behavior, even for pullets?

Can pullets be at top of pecking order, and with cockerels/roos of same age? Or is it automatic roo top order?

I don't think Gabby's profile/silhouette is that of a Roo at all; but then what do I know.

If Gabby is a ROO, I will

Thanks all in advance...

 

[~*B*~]

gabby is not a roo.
hens chest bump and all that too.

 

[ve]

Gabby is a girl

 

[speckledhen]

There is a Production Black, also called a California Gray, which is not a black sexlink. Those pullets are barred. If this is truly a Black sexlink, that is a cockerel, however, it's very dark for a BR male or a black sexlink cockerel, either one.


http://www.welphatchery.com/std_breeds/production_black.asp

 

[FluffyColor]

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They are both pullets.A BR and a Red Star.

 

[ISSOLA]

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Now I'm really confused. So Voldemort (previously Parvati) possible for barred rock hen?

Aaarrrgghhhh.... anybody else have input?

 

[FluffyColor]

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Now I'm really confused. So Voldemort (previously Parvati) possible for barred rock hen?

Aaarrrgghhhh.... anybody else have input?

Yes.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I believe your red star is a pullet - chest bumping happens with the pullets too. Her coloring is female and her comb is normal size for a 7 week old pullet. (based on the hatch date of June 22nd, stated in your original post)

As for Voldy, if is a black sexlink, then it is definitely a male (colorwise). If by chance, they gave you a barred rock, then it's possible that you have a female. Female barred rocks have the darker feather coloring, but your chick's comb & wattles are a bit rooish. Usually, pullets don't get pink in their combs until at least 6 weeks of age and Voldy had a pink comb at only 4 weeks (it kind of looks pink in the 2 week pic also).

These are 2 of my barred rock pullets at about 8 weeks of age, so you can compare their combs & wattles to your picture of Voldy at 7 weeks.

edited to add missing photo