Is my Barred Rock a Hen or Rooster?

[OakesFamily]

I was sure this was a hen, but people are saying she could be a rooster. She's only 2 1/2 months old. She is suppose to be a pullet...Thoughts everyone? Thanks for the help!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Looks like a cockerel, sorry. Pullets have darker black bars than cockerels, and his comb and wattles are big and prominent. There's someone on BYC with a good picture of comparison, hopefully they'll pop onto this thread.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Cockerel, no doubt. None.

 

[spikennipper]

Yes that is a boy 100%

 

[speckledhen]

That is 100% cockerel. Have owned many of them over the years I've had chickens. Barred Rocks are my favorite breed.

 

[Suburban Sprouts]

Definitely a boy. A good rule of thumb on the barred breeds is that if it has more white than black, it's a boy. More black than white, it's a girl.

 

[speckledhen]

Definitely a boy. A good rule of thumb on the barred breeds is that if it has more white than black, it's a boy. More black than white, it's a girl.

Which does apply most of the time.... if you know for certain that the chick is a pure BR. If it is a cross, as in the case of a black sex link cockerel, it can be a cockerel masquerading as a pullet, since it will have only one barring gene rather than the two of a pure BR male.

I did own a BR hen who was fully as light as any of her sons, though, so not all follow the rules; however, at 2 1/2 months old, no BR pullet would ever have a huge honking red comb and wattles like that.

 

[Jordan Hinkle]

male

 

[speckledhen]

This is what a 12 week old Barred Rock pullet looks like, so you can tell how much darker they are and how much smaller the combs are at that age:

 

[OakesFamily]

Okay thanks everyone! Totally bummed We will have to get rid of him. We aren't really suppose to HAVE chickens where we are and a rooster would be a dead give away. He is so sweet and it will break my heart to let him go.