Is it a he or a she?

[Lany44]

Bought these “girls” five weeks ago and I’m starting to worry that I have two Roos. I wouldn’t mind having roosters if they were allowed in my city but unfortunately I cannot. What do you think? I love them all so much. They are all so sweet!
I think my barred rock and buff might be Roos…I think they Amerucanas are pullets.

 

[redinator]

I can't really see if the Buff has a comb or wattles at that angle, but the first is most likely male, the middle chick in the third picture is a blur, but the other looks like a female . . . I'm new so these are guesses.

 

[newchickmomma83]

I don't know as much as most people on here but I think you are ok and they might all be pullets. I think for sure the last 3 are, I'm not sure about the barred rock. Either way they are all very cute and I hope you get to keep them all

 

[Lany44]

I can't really see if the Buff has a comb or wattles at that angle, but the first is most likely male, the middle chick in the third picture is a blur, but the other looks like a female . . . I'm new so these are guesses.

Thanks for the reply. I added some more photos. My two Amerucanas have no combs at all. That’s what makes me think the barred and buff are Roos.

 

[JedJackson]

I think you're fine on the buff Orpington, but I think the barred bird is a male black sex link rather than a barred rock. Just my opinion.

 

[redinator]

Thanks for the reply. I added some more photos. My two Amerucanas have no combs at all. That’s what makes me think the barred and buff are Roos.

I agree w @JedJackson on the buff, there is a comb, but it's still looks pale. I don't know enough to tell the difference between barred rocks and black sex-linked, so I'm sticking with male on that one. The other two look like pullets . . . but I did have a chick surprise me at 8.5 weeks when his comb darkened, but it was still small . . . he's a Barnyard Mix so they're a bit harder to pin down than pure breeds.

 

[JedJackson]

The reason I think the barred one is a black sex link cockerel is because it is single barred, meaning it's darker in overall color than a pure barred rock male would be.

The way the barring gene works, and why male barred rocks are lighter, is because they have two copies of the barring gene whereas female BRs can only have one copy of the barring gene, and thus are darker.

Also, the legs are much darker than usual for female barred rocks.

So it can be one of three things-- a barred rock female, a black sex link male, or a male of a different type of hybrid have a barred hen as one parent, and a non-barred father, as in black sex links. To me, sex link cockerel is the most likely.

Complicated? Yes. But that's genetics for you.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I think you're fine on the buff Orpington, but I think the barred bird is a male black sex link rather than a barred rock. Just my opinion.

I agree.

 

[citymeetscountry]

The reason I think the barred one is a black sex link cockerel is because it is single barred, meaning it's darker in overall color than a pure barred rock male would be.

The way the barring gene works, and why male barred rocks are lighter, is because they have two copies of the barring gene whereas female BRs can only have one copy of the barring gene, and thus are darker.

Also, the legs are much darker than usual for female barred rocks.

So it can be one of three things-- a barred rock female, a black sex link male, or a male of a different type of hybrid have a barred hen as one parent, and a non-barred father, as in black sex links. To me, sex link cockerel is the most likely.

Complicated? Yes. But that's genetics for you.

This. If it’s a barred rock it looks female.

 

[Lany44]

The reason I think the barred one is a black sex link cockerel is because it is single barred, meaning it's darker in overall color than a pure barred rock male would be.

The way the barring gene works, and why male barred rocks are lighter, is because they have two copies of the barring gene whereas female BRs can only have one copy of the barring gene, and thus are darker.

Also, the legs are much darker than usual for female barred rocks.

So it can be one of three things-- a barred rock female, a black sex link male, or a male of a different type of hybrid have a barred hen as one parent, and a non-barred father, as in black sex links. To me, sex link cockerel is the most likely.

Complicated? Yes. But that's genetics for you.

Thanks for the reply. I’m hoping she is a female barred rock. I got her or him from Cal Ranch it’s like a tractor supply type store. They said she was a Plymouth Rock. They also said 90 percent chance she is a pullet. All the other “sexing” tricks I did says she is a she, but that comb gets me nervous. I agree that she doesn’t seem to be double barred white like the males. I’ve looked at so many photos and I feel like I can’t really tell anymore if she is on the dark side or the light side. It’s becoming a blur. This is my first set of chicks and I would hate to have to rehome if she turns out to be a he. Where I live we aren’t allowed roosters. I look up black sex links and see what those look like. Thanks for taking the time to reply!