Is this a pullet or cockerel?

[Lhiannan1807]

I bought 6 black sex link chicks at tractor supply a few weeks back, and they were listed as pullets. All were solid black when I got them, but 3 now have white edging on their breast feathers. I haven't found any pictures of hens with white on them for this breed. I can't have roosters, so I'm a bit worried :-/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That's a pullet... I think, how old? Full body pic?

A lot of the black sex link get some color on their chest... even making them appear like Marans. But the boys will have black and white barring and look like a barred rock, essentially. So I wouldn't currently be worried. It's just an anomaly that will make her easier to distinguish.

 

[Lhiannan1807]

Thank you

I think they're 6 or 7 weeks old at this point. I've never had chickens before, and everything I've seen for bls hens shows black with reddish brown feathers, so the white had me concerned. I don't have any full body pics atm, but could try to get some in a little bit. I've got some college assignments due today, so I'm trying to get those done

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don't have any full body pics atm, but could try to get some in a little bit.

Gender feathering won't be coming in yet, so it would just show her stance. She doesn't have any pink in her comb and no waddles to speak of. I'm fairly confident that is a pullet.

I NEVER liked homework. Good luck on your assignments.

 

[coach723]

Here is a decent article that discusses sex links and the coloring, may help. No idea why white rather than reddish, but it does appear to be a pullet. I think the white head dot as a hatchling would still have been the tell for a cockerel. Sometimes the discussion of genetics and coloring makes me dizzy.
https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chickens-101/understanding-sex-link-hybrid-chickens/

 

[Lhiannan1807]

I NEVER liked homework. Good luck on your assignments.

Since I'm choosing to go, I don't mind. It's just a bit hard with four kids and a mini zoo, lol. I'm going for nutrition, which l love, so homework isn't too bad

 

[Lhiannan1807]

Here is a decent article that discusses sex links and the coloring, may help. No idea why white rather than reddish, but it does appear to be a pullet. I think the white head dot as a hatchling would still have been the tell for a cockerel. Sometimes the discussion of genetics and coloring makes me dizzy.
https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chickens-101/understanding-sex-link-hybrid-chickens/

Thank you, I'll check it out!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think those are actually Asian Blacks.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Pulet

 

[Thechickenchick2]

That is definitely an Asian black and is a pullet. I also got Asian blacks (labeled as BSL) and I got 2 cockerels in the mix. That’s what the pullets look like. The cockerels end up with golden chest feathers and gold through their wings and back etc. I uploaded pictures of the cockerel (2 weeks ago) and just like 2 of one of my pullets. I can attach updated ones if you’d like as well..