Is barred black sexlink always a roo?

[Joeyjjj]

First time raising black sexlinks and I have learnt that barred ones are roosters. Does anyone know if the barred can be female?? I got this one when she was only three days old and she was solid black at that time.Thanks!

Attached is photo taken today, she is 4.5 months old.

 

[cstephens1987]

First time raising black sexlinks and I have learnt that barred ones are roosters. Does anyone know if the barred can be female?? I got this one when she was only three days old and she was solid black at that time.Thanks!

Attached is photo taken today, she is 4.5 months old.

View attachment 1884821

How sure are you that this is a black sex link?

 

[Joeyjjj]

How sure are you that this is a black sex link?

To be honest, I am not sure at all. Might be other breed. I was told she is black sexlink when I bought at the feed store.

 

[so lucky]

And I had the reverse to that question: Is a male black sex link ever not barred, but black with brown neck and shoulders?

 

[cstephens1987]

To be honest, I am not sure at all. Might be other breed. I was told she is black sexlink when I bought at the feed store.

The reason I ask is that a black sex link female would never be barred, however this bird lacks the pointed male saddle feathers I would expect to see on an 18 week old male. Do you have pictures of this bird at various ages?

 

[cstephens1987]

And I had the reverse to that question: Is a male black sex link ever not barred, but black with brown neck and shoulders?

It kind of sounds like your describing a black copper sex link female but without pictures I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that as far as I know a black sex link of any type should always result in a barred male.

 

[keesmom]

Where did you get them? Maybe from someone who bred black sex link to black sex link?

 

[Joeyjjj]

The reason I ask is that a black sex link female would never be barred, however this bird lacks the pointed male saddle feathers I would expect to see on an 18 week old male. Do you have pictures of this bird at various ages?

I don't have any pics taken around 18 week. But the first pic was taken at around 10 weeks and the 2nd pic was taken 16 week. It does look like the tail feathers were pointy at that time.

 

[cstephens1987]

I don't have any pics taken around 18 week. But the first pic was taken at around 10 weeks and the 2nd pic was taken 16 week. It does look like the tail feathers were pointy at that time.
View attachment 1884837

View attachment 1884838

Yeah I'm not entirely sure what this bird is. I only said 18 weeks because you said 4.5 months. Male saddle feathers start to grow in around 12+ weeks and I can't seem to see any on any of the pics of this bird. The comb came in a tad early for a pulley but late for a cockerel so I'm tempted to say you have some kind of oddly bred, early maturing Pullet. Definitely doesn't look like your standard black sex link though whatever it is. If it's a black sex link then it is a very late maturing cockerel (which can happen).

 

[ColtHandorf]

It appears to be a late-maturing Black Sex-link cockerel to me...