Is this 4 week old really a black sex link?

[Mrsnewman83]

Hello, I am new to chickens and we have six of them right now all about 4 weeks old. My husband bought two black sex links from tractor supply and one was a little larger and acted differently than the other from the very beginning - she was taller, seemed to always know what’s going on, paying attention to us when we’d approach them and talk to them. She’s been my favorite. However her feathers are different now at four weeks old from the other black sex link we have. The other is very shiny black with reddish brown feathers. This girl is black and white and taller. We’re wondering if she’s a black sex link at all? Or maybe she’s a rooster? We’re new to this so any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[danceswithronin]

Hello, I am new to chickens and we have six of them right now all about 4 weeks old. My husband bought two black sex links from tractor supply and one was a little larger and acted differently than the other from the very beginning - she was taller, seemed to always know what’s going on, paying attention to us when we’d approach them and talk to them. She’s been my favorite. However her feathers are different now at four weeks old from the other black sex link we have. The other is very shiny black with reddish brown feathers. This girl is black and white and taller. We’re wondering if she’s a black sex link at all? Or maybe she’s a rooster? We’re new to this so any help would be great. Thanks! View attachment 1741609View attachment 1741610View attachment 1741611View attachment 1741614View attachment 1741615View attachment 1741618

Does look like a cockerel to me. Also looks more like a Barred Rock than a black sex link.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Might be another breed, or could be a black sexlink rooster, since they are barred.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Black Sex Link or Barred Plymouth Rock cockerel.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

If it is a black sex link, then its male. If its not a black sex link, its a barred rock... and I lean towards male.

 

[drumstick diva]

x2

 

[twitterpated]

Doesn’t look like a black sex link to me. Sorry.

 

[annageckos]

Likely a black sexlink cockerel, they are barred.

 

[Largarbar]

Hello, I am new to chickens and we have six of them right now all about 4 weeks old. My husband bought two black sex links from tractor supply and one was a little larger and acted differently than the other from the very beginning - she was taller, seemed to always know what’s going on, paying attention to us when we’d approach them and talk to them. She’s been my favorite. However her feathers are different now at four weeks old from the other black sex link we have. The other is very shiny black with reddish brown feathers. This girl is black and white and taller. We’re wondering if she’s a black sex link at all? Or maybe she’s a rooster? We’re new to this so any help would be great. Thanks!

We got 2 BSL 'pullets' from Tractor Supply about 5 weeks ago... when I got home I started researching (as one does) about the breed and what they would look like when older. And I came across a couple of pics that explained the BSL chicks and how to tell the males (by the white spot on head) from the females (all black). I knew immediately that TSC had screwed me. 2 roos.... no one has officially crowed yet, but... the pics are very red....

That being said, one of them has been the "coop cop" since we got him. It's now his name (cookoo for short). And he helped train the girls when to go to bed once we moved them outside. He has been nothing but lovely and he looks like he will be beautiful when full grown. I have no use for more than one rooster, so I'm still miffed at TSC because my heart hates to have to cull.

But if you do keep yours (which, to the point of the post, I believe is also a cockerel) I hope he also does a fine job protecting his ladies.