Gender of Barred Rocks - Not following the 'rules'

[Bens-Hens]

Hi all,

I am normally confident looking at other people birds, but hesitant on my own!

We purchased two BR chicks to adopt to a broody RIR. I researched the gender sexing of day olds and did my best to choose from the breeders brood two females.

I looked for the tight white dot, but they all looked kind of big and blurry,
I looked for the darkest black stripe, but one seemed to fade after a week or two,
I chose the darkest down colour that was there.

Joined those together, spoke with the breeder and she said 'none of those really work with my line, it's hit and miss". Great.

So, here they are as day old (disregard teh Blue Australorp in the background)


At about 5 weeks




and the two more recent shots at 8 weeks. Disregard the SIlver Pencilled Wyandotte in the back ground, only just noticed she was there and probably confuses things.

No1 on the left, No 2 on the right

No 1 on the right and No 2 on the left



I am not sure if at 8 weeks a male should have a bigger comb, but one does look more red than the other. Some internet searches show males with quite big red combs and wattles by that stage, yet, I am not confident we have two pullets.

Please, chip in any thoughts.

 

[donrae]

Those both look like pullets to me.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Those both look like pullets to me.

x2

 

[BantamLover21]

x2

x3

 

[Wyandottes7]

X4, you seem to have both pullets.

 

[sourland]

They do look like pullets - strong and almost masculine in type, but pullets nevertheless.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Wahoo! We have had so many cockerels is would be great to have some we can keep!

Thanks again team!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Seems like both are pullets .