HELP... is one of our hens a rooster?

[surfchicken72]

Is there an easy way to tell if we were accidentally given a rooster at 3 1/2 weeks? Unfortunately my wife's FAVORITE Barred Rock hen chick is possibly showing signs it may be a rooster....
She's guessing, as these are our first chickens ever.. BUT..

She/He is slightly larger than the rest, her/his comb on top of the head is definitely larger than the rest....
Is there a way to tell at this age? Or signs to look for?
She will be really bummed out if this one has to go....

-SC72

 

[acid_chipmunk]

A bigger comb USUALLY means roo, but not always. Can you post some pics, it's easier for us to help you that way.

 

[Bookworm chick]

I had the same dilemma. A nice Barred Rock chick that I was hoping was a pullet. It's comb and wattle was larger and pinker. It had large sturdy legs, bigger feet. It's feathers were lighter in color than the hens. Then one morning we heard this weird wannabe crow coming from the coop. We knew what our lone rooster's (George) crow sounded like and that wasn't it. We still have him (now 16 weeks) and might keep him anyway for when George gets too old to do his job. I'd been calling it Wilhemina before we heard the crowing. Now, it's Willie.

 

[surfchicken72]

Here He/She is.... they don't like to "pose" so tell me if these angles are any good, or what you'd need for a comparison shot...

crossing my fingers it's not a roo, she will not be happy.
SC72

 

[slackwater]

Is it lighter in coloring than your other BR pullets? BR cockerals usually have hte "opposite" banding pattern, and are lighter as a result.

 

[surfchicken72]

as far as coloring, his comb is DARKER than the rest, which I attribute to it being larger..
His/Her "butt" under the tail feathers seems to have more pronounced WHITE on it that the other 2 BR hens. With a solid gray stripe down the middle.
The other 2 seem to be mostly gray ALL on their "butts"

 

[KristaBeth]

I'm a newbie, but I have an 8-week-old female BR whose comb is not as big as your chick's. I will get a pic but right now the camera is out of batteries

 

[gritsar]

That's a cockerel. Sorry.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Yes, that is totally a boy!

 

[sonew123]

wow! That is soooo a roo