hens or roos? barred rocks-at 17 weeks and 15 weeks

[Eowyn2]

Ok, how do you people tell the difference between barred rocks and black sex-links?!?!? I have barred rocks, so I feel I can easily pick that breed out of a flock; however on some of these "barred rock" threads a bunch of people chime in with "those are actually black sex-links" and it catches me completely off guard. How on earth can you see that?? What's the key?

Oh, and I only see cockerels in those last pictures. Sorry.

And if they're sex-links, shouldn't they be obvious from hatch day whether they're cockerels or pullets? Do you have a picture of them as young babies?

 

[raygirl4386]

sorry i dont have a clear picture of the ones in the last photos. thank you everyone for your help guess ill be finding them new homes =( and picking more up, found a guy about 30 mins away selling comets and easter eggs (18 and 16weeks) for $8.50 and $10.50, wanna jump on hat since most people are selling way younger pullets and chicks for more than he is asking, and he said that if the sexing was wrong i can turn them in and replace them. so i will be giving hem a call.

 

[donrae]

Ok, how do you people tell the difference between barred rocks and black sex-links?!?!? I have barred rocks, so I feel I can easily pick that breed out of a flock; however on some of these "barred rock" threads a bunch of people chime in with "those are actually black sex-links" and it catches me completely off guard. How on earth can you see that?? What's the key?

Oh, and I only see cockerels in those last pictures. Sorry.

And if they're sex-links, shouldn't they be obvious from hatch day whether they're cockerels or pullets? Do you have a picture of them as young babies?

Read speckledhen's comments, she goes into some of the difference.

To me the main thing is the color. Pure barred roos are lighter than the pullets. They have two copies of the barring gene and hens have one, that is why br hens are darker and roosters are lighter. The black sex link roos also have only copy of the barring gene, so are darker colored. Plus the barring is just "off" a little, kinda messy. And red leakage in the hackles or shoulders is always an indicator of a cross.

 

[Fred's Hens]

A Black Sex Link is 1/2 barred rock. In the first generation of the cross (typically a Red rooster is used over a BR hen) the cockerels feather out very similar to a barred rock. The pullets feather out glossy black with red leakage on their necks and chest.

As the cockerels mature, they also begin to leak gold coloration, often in their wings and on the necks.

I'm sorry that people errantly sold you BSL chicks as barred rocks. That they are also cockerels is probably doubling disappointing to you.