Help please. Black Australorp or Barred Rock? Roo or Hen?

[Blue Raptor]

Hi! Can anyone provide some insight on this little one? I wanted a Black Australorp, but she (he?) looks more like a Barred Rock to me. S/he is approximately 3 weeks old in this pic. Also, I am hoping "Sue Bird" is a hen, but am thinking she may be a rooster? I did choose her from a pullet bin marked as "Black Autralorp" at a local agricultural store, but I know that isn't always 100% I had to re-home a rooster two years ago, and it broke my heart. Hoping I do not have to go that route again, but I know I don't have enough hens to keep a rooster happy.

Yeah, Australorps are more dappled. And BRs have a more obvious barred black and white patterns. Too bad the store couldn't figure out the right breed. It helps to know the chick colors so that you don't get the wrong type.

 

[Iluveggers]

Great job identifying the chicks! Yes on the Sapphire Gem and the Easter Egger. The little black one is supposed to be a Midnight Marans - at least that was what the store said.

Does the Marans have feathered feet? If not, I’m still voting Australorp! Lol

 

[Granny23]

Hi! Can anyone provide some insight on this little one? I wanted a Black Australorp, but she (he?) looks more like a Barred Rock to me. S/he is approximately 3 weeks old in this pic. Also, I am hoping "Sue Bird" is a hen, but am thinking she may be a rooster? I did choose her from a pullet bin marked as "Black Autralorp" at a local agricultural store, but I know that isn't always 100% I had to re-home a rooster two years ago, and it broke my heart. Hoping I do not have to go that route again, but I know I don't have enough hens to keep a rooster happy.

Our little barred rock "Cookie" looks just like that.

 

[Birdielee]

We had 17 barred rock chicks. I didn’t do too well picking pullets out by white head spots, silver ruffs, dark legs, or chicks who run away.

But when their tails grew a bit, i leg-banded all the ones with no tails. It was pretty accurate. Only one un banded chick was a rooster. All the banded ones were roos. The split was about 50/50. No tail at 12ish days old is male. Male with leg band and no tail in photo. Pullet with bare leg and a tail.

When they got a little older, the pullets were noticeably dark and the cockerels became noticeably lighter with their barring. But having 17 for comparison was helpful for seeing the difference.

Just for information’s sake, my black australorp had a lot more meat on him at 8 weeks than my barred rock at 8 weeks.

And the australorps were more personable. They were friendly, not terrified by my arrival like the barred rocks. I had the ausralorp chicks march and april, the barred rock chicks from the end of april -late june.