Do I have a bunch of Roos??

[littlepip]

These Rustic Rock chicks are about a 6-8 weeks old and I’m worrying about the likelihood of them being Roos, considering many of them have underdeveloped tail feathers and reddening combs. Also the “crazy eyes”. Since they’re a mixed breed, I’ve gotten a lot of mixed messages of sex indicators. These are bad photos, but they wouldn’t sit still for better ones.

I’m definitely thinking the one front and center is a Roo from his white neck feathers and head shape. But I’m unsure.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Good news! They’re difficult to tell genders for you because you have no males to compare them with. All are definitely pullets

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's hard for me to tell because of the lighting. I don't believe you can go by tail feathers.

 

[littlepip]

Good news! They’re difficult to tell genders for you because you have no males to compare them with. All are definitely pullets

What makes you say so? I’ve had chickens for 6 years so you’d think I’d be better at identification by now lol. I’ve never had this breed before so I have no clue what to look out for! Are you going by tails and combs? I hope you’re correct, I wouldn’t mind one rooster but I can’t do more than one.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

These identifying sex characteristics , hackle and saddle feathers - generally are not obvious until about 13 weeks of age. Some hens may develop spurs. At the age of your chicks, tail feathers are not generally an indicator of sex.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

These are Barred Rocks. Males are considerably lighter than hens because they have twice as much white as hens. This is also true of Dominiques but MAY NOT BE TRUE of mixed breeds.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

What makes you say so? I’ve had chickens for 6 years so you’d think I’d be better at identification by now lol. I’ve never had this breed before so I have no clue what to look out for! Are you going by tails and combs? I hope you’re correct, I wouldn’t mind one rooster but I can’t do more than one.

The color and size of their combs and wattles. In production mixes they would be huge on a cockerel. Often times when comb and wattle growth is delayed is in a slow-growing breed or an unhealthy chick. Since yours are filled out, healthy, and quite mature for 6-8 weeks, I feel confident you have no stragglers

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I think the one at lower left in top pic MAY be a cockerel.