Confused

[lm2011grad]

We got 6 chickens from tractor supply on valentines day. They were all suposed to be females, we have two that are very questionable and now a morning crowing problem. Our chicks are between 18 and 20 weeks so we don't have eggs yet, and no one has spurs (whichI thought was a big deal for roosters). One is a barred rock one is a Rhode Island Red.

[/IMG] two of our barred rocks have barely any comb/waddle and two of our Rhode Island chicks have a waddle and comb one doesn't! I am completely confused at this point seeing as we bought specifically from the puller only chicks!

 

[SweetSilver]

It does look like a BR cockerel-- barring is lighter than females' barring.

Fancy that! Mistakes can be made....

 

[lm2011grad]

Here is a picture of our questionable Rhode Island Red, she even has two long tail feathers!!!!

 

[SweetSilver]

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Cross post

 

[lm2011grad]

Is there a sure fire way to tell? Roosters will have to go and my kids will be pretty bummed. There is an ordinance against roosters in my city so if any of our she chickens are he chickens we've waisted months of time, energy, and feed on them!

 

[SweetSilver]

The BR is definitely a roo. Even with the little I know, I am confident of this one.

The RIR with the sickle feathers is probably a cockerel as well. Pullets do not have sickle feathers (the 2 long feathers at the top of the tail.) But for that one, you'll want to rely on another opinion.

 

[azcook]

Is there a sure fire way to tell? Roosters will have to go and my kids will be pretty bummed. There is an ordinance against roosters in my city so if any of our she chickens are he chickens we've waisted months of time, energy, and feed on them!

With barred rocks you can tell as soon as they start to feather... more white= Roos more black= Pullet

 

[lm2011grad]

Ugh I am so disappointed! Our other RIR looks just like this minus the long feathers! Although she has the large waddles and teal tail feathers they just aren't as long. It is going to be a major disappointment if we lose half of our flock!

 

[SweetSilver]

Look more closely (at your RIR) at the neck feathers (hackles) and the feathers on the back, just in front of the tail feathers (saddle feathers). They would be growing in pointed at this age for cockerels. Pullets would have more obviously rounded ends on their tail feathers, and usually straighter than cockerel tail feathers, (which curve downwards, sometimes just a little, other times a lot) and no sickle feathers.

 

[lm2011grad]

We went out this morning and took the time to really look out our chickens. I took pictures with my real camera instead of with my phone so I could do a little more justice to the birds! The two questionable RIR have HUGE legs compared to the very obvious hen. However, the two big RIR do look different. I took better pictures!
This is Cadbury We are 95% sure this is a Rooster. Huge thick legs, tail feathers, and bumps where spurs will grow.
This one we are 99% sure is a Rooster, this one "Bessy" Crows VERY loudly at 6am every morning, has big thick legs, a long tail, and bumps where spurs will come in
This one named Rose I don't even know anymore! It has BIG THICK legs and a bump where a spur will be, a waddle and comb, teal tail feathers, but she is rounder than the RIR with the tail feathers (pictured behind her). Our clearly female RIR is 3/4 of the size of this bird with little nubby waddles and combs, same with our 2 very obvious lady Barred Rocks with their stubby little waddles and combs. You can see one of our clearly pullet Barred rocks in the background here too. No waddles.