Having anxiety here

[Pam Koharchik]

We bought 3 hens 2 weeks ago. Now we are afraid 2 are emerging as roosters (a no-no in our town). The barred rock has not shown signs yet except for its long neck. The black Austrilorp has pinned down the hen (she's def a hen) and been vocal with a few crows in the morning. Can you tell from pics? I'm sick over this. It's my first time (at 51) doing this.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The barred rock has not shown signs yet except for its long neck. The black Austrilorp has pinned down the hen (she's def a hen) and been vocal with a few crows in the morning. Can you tell from pics? I'm sick over this.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The barred bird is definitely a cockerel per the feather pattern being double wide white bars... I won't say Rock for sure though without shank and skin color.. very typical looking of sex link cockerels.

The black one.. I can't make out saddles... I have had pullets mount each other as a display of dominance... Hens can and do crow at times and even grow spurs... but I've never seen a pullet crow! According to your description of behavior I would say definitely also a cockerel.

Here is a very good photo from google that shows the clear difference ONCE coming in.. you might be able to tell more in person then I can make out by photo..

I'm sorry you face this. Hang in there!

 

[Painted Calls]

Hello and welcome to BYC and to chickens!!

How old are your birds? The Barred Rock is definitely a cockerel. The Australorp also appears to be a cockerel with those giant wattles.

Do not be discouraged! This happens all too often. If you bought them as pullets from a private individual, I would first contact them and let them know that two turned out to be cockerels. See if they are willing to make it right. Any decebt person would. Especially considering they haven't been around any other birds.

If that doesn't work out, I've always had luck selling cockerels on Craigslist.

When/if you try again, post good pictures of comb and wattles here for us to try and sex for you before you buy.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry to say, the barred Rock is a male, and the Australorp is likely one too. If you bought these as older chicks, or young chickens, the seller most likely knew they were giving you two males. You should see if they will correct this for you. How old were they when you got them? If you buy more, you should post pics here first (don't trust those sellers again on their word). It is common to have inexperienced people duped by those wanting to unload males....honest mistakes often happen with young chicks, but some (like the barred Rock) are pretty easy to determine as male at a young age.

Good Luck

 

[TheOddOneOut]

We bought 3 hens 2 weeks ago. Now we are afraid 2 are emerging as roosters (a no-no in our town). The barred rock has not shown signs yet except for its long neck. The black Austrilorp has pinned down the hen (she's def a hen) and been vocal with a few crows in the morning. Can you tell from pics? I'm sick over this. It's my first time (at 51) doing this.

Both are boys. Sorry!

 

[Pam Koharchik]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The barred bird is definitely a cockerel per the feather pattern being double wide white bars... I won't say Rock for sure though without shank and skin color.. very typical looking of sex link cockerels.

The black one.. I can't make out saddles... I have had pullets mount each other as a display of dominance... Hens can and do crow at times and even grow spurs... but I've never seen a pullet crow! According to your description of behavior I would say definitely also a cockerel.

Here is a very good photo from google that shows the clear difference ONCE coming in.. you might be able to tell more in person then I can make out by photo..
View attachment 2194349

I'm sorry you face this. Hang in there!

Thank you. I'm devastated. That wasn't even the one that was vocal. Thelma...er...Tom now?...is the most docile of the bunch.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Thank you. I'm devastated. That wasn't even the one that was vocal. Thelma...er...Tom now?...is the most docile of the bunch.

Sometimes when you have more than 1 cockerel you will have 1 that's vocal and the other thats not.