I think I have a TSC "oops" rooster (Barred Rock)

[Rivington]

We bought sexed barred rock chicks from TSC and they are now four weeks old. I didn't bother to find out about sexing barred rock chicks beforehand but it seems there are several tell tale signs even when they are a day old that we didn't check. These traits are even more pronounced now:
- his (I'll stick with the masculine pronoun) comb is more pronounced than his flock mates
- he pecks at our hands when we try to pick him up
- the white spot on his head is more diffuse
- he has lighter legs
- his feathering is lighter

All are apparently tell-tale signs of a rooster. In case of any doubt here is some photographic evidence. The top one is "Pecky" and the bottom is, I assume, a pullet. She wasn't cooperative to show off her legs but they have dark markings down the front.

So is this beyond all doubt a roo that we have?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I was just trying to learn about this today. Roosters have double barring but I have no idea what that means . LOL

 

[Alice EG]

Yep, that is a cockerel.

 

[Pyxis]

Yep, top is a cockerel, bottom is a pullet.

 

[Kiki]

Yep he is a boy.
Notice how he looks more light in overall color too?
Double barring = more white showing

 

[Pyxis]

I was just trying to learn about this today. Roosters have double barring but I have no idea what that means . LOL

Double barring means he has two copies of the barred gene, thus making him appear lighter than a pullet, who will only have one copy of the gene, does Only males can be double barred because barring is a sex linked gene.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Double barring means he has two copies of the barred gene, thus making him appear lighter than a pullet, who will only have one copy of the gene, does Only males can be double barred because barring is a sex linked gene.

So if you only have one rooster how can you tell its lighter then a pullet ? Mine is about that size now with no comb but sure is a nosy thing. I got her because I had a single hatch.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Oh, and thank you for the info AND I seen your egg a rocking !! excited

 

[feedman77]

Top is cockerel. Bottom is a pullet.

Might not have been a tsc oops as even sexed pullets from hatchery are 90 to 95 percent guaranteed. The only 100 percent would be sexlinks.

 

[drumstick diva]

Exactly top bird is a cockerel , bottom a pullet. Even if you have only one chick, the male's bars will appear grayish rather than black.