Is my Meyer Meal Maker a Barred Rock?

[mimischicksnat]

It has black legs and is supposed to be a pullet.

 

[Whittni]

If you wait a few weeks for comb development we should be able to give you an idea on your chick's breed and sex. However, generally hatcheries offer a 90% gender guarantee.

 

[Griffinsong]

Probably a barred rock, yes, 'but wont be able to tell for sure until it gets older and there is a visible comb+barring. I've heard the black wash on the legs is a good sign for a pullet.

 

[jonsccm]

It looks like barred rock to me. I had several that had that dark coloring on the legs like yours. Mine were from Meyer as well. Also the MMM from them could be a male or female but from what they told me if your order contains mostly female they will give you a female.
I heard that with the barred rocks you can tell males from females with some accuracy by looking at the white dot on the head. Nice round white dot female and blotchy not so round white dot is a male. Out of mine that was 100% true but I still doubt it because it sounds to much like an old wife's tale. Lol!

 

[donrae]

It looks like barred rock to me. I had several that had that dark coloring on the legs like yours. Mine were from Meyer as well. Also the MMM from them could be a male or female but from what they told me if your order contains mostly female they will give you a female.
I heard that with the barred rocks you can tell males from females with some accuracy by looking at the white dot on the head. Nice round white dot female and blotchy not so round white dot is a male. Out of mine that was 100% true but I still doubt it because it sounds to much like an old wife's tale. Lol!

Sounds like an old wives tale, but it's actually based in science! Barred females have one copy of the barring gene, this gives a smaller, tighter headspot and darker legs. Pure barred males have two copies of the barring gene, in chicks it causes a larger, messier headspot and lighter colored legs. It's also why fully feathered birds are easy to tell the gender. Females with a single copy are darker, males with two copies have wider white bars and look lighter overall. It does take a practiced eye to tell the headspots, though. Folks look at you funny when you stand over the tub of 50 chicks at the feed store trying to spot the statistically 5 Oops cockerels

 

[jonsccm]

Sounds like an old wives tale, but it's actually based in science! Barred females have one copy of the barring gene, this gives a smaller, tighter headspot and darker legs. Pure barred males have two copies of the barring gene, in chicks it causes a larger, messier headspot and lighter colored legs. It's also why fully feathered birds are easy to tell the gender. Females with a single copy are darker, males with two copies have wider white bars and look lighter overall. It does take a practiced eye to tell the headspots, though. Folks look at you funny when you stand over the tub of 50 chicks at the feed store trying to spot the statistically 5 Oops cockerels 

Lol! Learn something new every day!

 

[BantamLover21]

Looks like a Barred Rock pullet, but it is too young to be sure on either gender or breed.

 

[mimischicksnat]

My first thought was Cuckoo Marans because it looked so similar to my sister-in-laws chicks. Then I thought maybe Dominique. I've read where other Meyer's Meal makers tend to be Barred Rocks, so I'm sticking with that until her comb tells me other wise.

 

[jonsccm]

My first thought was Cuckoo Marans because it looked so similar to my sister-in-laws chicks.  Then I thought maybe Dominique.  I've read where other Meyer's Meal makers tend to be Barred Rocks, so I'm sticking with that until her comb tells me other wise. 

Most of Meyers Marans have some feathering on the legs, if you see a strait comb it's a barred rock. Dominique does not have a strait comb you should be able to tell within a week of hatch if not the first day