Breeds and genders of flock?

[Frazzemrat1]

If all three the barred rocks are roosters then how come one squats when I put my hand over it's tail? The one with the short tail feathers in pic 4.

I have to agree they're all male. Male barred breeds are very much lighter than the females. Their double barring gene makes the lighter barrs wider than the females single bars making her dark stripes or bars wider. So males vs females look like this photo.

And I think its the only thing I disagree with Jed about. Their barring is so erratic. I think they're all black sex link cockerels. Or, if they are actually BR, then they're really badly colored.

 

[Ocdbrownie]

The two reds closest to the front is the two I'm missing from the rest of the pics. These two squat when I put my hand over their backs too.

 

[Ocdbrownie]

So. . Out my flock of 15, I have about 6 or 7 males. . . How many females would I need to even that out? I had planned to go get a set of ten variety of female chicks.would I need to get more then ten? Btw, we received a hen from a friend last night because the rest of her flock was killed by a chicken hawk, so it's now a flock of 16.

 

[JedJackson]

The two reds closest to the front is the two I'm missing from the rest of the pics. These two squat when I put my hand over their backs too.View attachment 1486561

The red one up front looks like a pullet. The red in the middle of the picture could be either. Would need a closer, better picture to know more.

I'm sorry it appears you have a lot of cockerels. You should get other opinions, definitely, but that is what I am seeing. Wish it was better news.

Generally large fowl are recommended to have around 10 hens per rooster. But if they get along, then it might work if you want to keep them all. It very well might not, too. You just have to wait and see. If it were me, I would be rehoming all but 1 or 2 of them. Not only is feeding them expensive considering they won't lay eggs, but they may fight and they may cause problems to your hens from over-breeding.

 

[JedJackson]

I have to agree they're all male. Male barred breeds are very much lighter than the females. Their double barring gene makes the lighter barrs wider than the females single bars making her dark stripes or bars wider. So males vs females look like this photo.

View attachment 1486556

And I think its the only thing I disagree with Jed about. Their barring is so erratic. I think they're all black sex link cockerels. Or, if they are actually BR, then they're really badly colored.

Yes, they could well be black sex link cockerels instead of barred rocks.