is this a barred rock hen? (please be a barred rock hen!)

[cameroneil]

hello chickenfolk!

my newest addition came from the local farm store--they had just gotten three fluffy black n' white young'uns in that day. there was no identification on the cage, they were so fresh, but the guy said they were 2-month old barred rock hens. i've always wanted a barred rock hen! however, the farm store does not have the most spectacular record with accurate chicken breed/gender ID. (case in point: http://totallyurbanfarmer.blogspot.com/2011/12/important-correctiontufdate.html)

is this pretty young thing indeed a barred rock hen, and not a barred rock rooster? or a turkey? thanks for your help!! --cameroneil

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

That's not a BR that's a Dominique. BR's have single combs, Dominiques have pea (or rose?).

Looks like a pullet also.

 

[Fred's Hens]

More akin to a Dom. Comb isn't right for BR. Pretty, pretty bird.

 

[cameroneil]

oh a dominique! i have heard of this! i will look up more information on that breed. she is a sweet girl, and i'm so glad y'all are thinking she is indeed a she. is 2 months or 8wk probably about right?

thanks so much for the almost instant replies. --cameroneil

 

[speckledhen]

Hate to say it, but if that chick is only 8 weeks old, it cannot be a pullet. It has to be a cockerel with that bright red comb and wattles already. It would have to be weeks older for a pullet to have that much color in the comb.

 

[hdowden]

thats a dom cockerel not a pullet

 

[donrae]

Hate to say it, but if that chick is only 8 weeks old, it cannot be a pullet. It has to be a cockerel with that bright red comb and wattles already. It would have to be weeks older for a pullet to have that much color in the comb.

That's what I was thinking also. I know the dark color says pullet, but that comb/wattles scream roo. Maybe it's a dominique black sex link cockeral?

 

[cameroneil]

oh man! so now i've got a pullet vote and several cockerel votes. now, here's a question: i have an easter egger rooster. he is quite docile and a very nice young man (just has his first birthday). he is completely indifferent to the new comer, and even errs on the side of nice. could it be that this is a pullet that's older than the guy at the store said (older than 8 weeks? which would be great!!), or is that i just have a really passive rooster who doesn't care that there's another young male present? thanks so much for your input, already and future. --cameroneil

 

[speckledhen]

That's what I was thinking also. I know the dark color says pullet, but that comb/wattles scream roo. Maybe it's a dominique black sex link cockeral?

Could very well be the case, yes.


At 8 weeks, they rarely care about other males anyway. They all are just then starting to establish an actual pecking order. If the chick is actually 8 wks old, in about 3 weeks or so, if that is a cockerel, you'll see shiny, skinny, pointy saddle feathers coming in on the back in front of the tail-if the bird is older than 8 weeks, check by parting the back feathers now and see what is coming in underneath.

 

[featherz]

If it's 8 weeks old, no way is that a girl. =(