Isa Brown-6 weeks old. Hen or roo?

[Mrs123Wife]

Hi all, I have three Isa Brown chicks, all 6 weeks old (as well as 12 other, different breeds). I am trying to determine if Ellie is a hen or roo. Betty and Addy are both showing a bit more brown/red color, and Ellie has more white. All three have similar combs. Any tips?

First pic is Betty. Second is Addy. Last is Ellie.

 

[1muttsfan]

Since Isa's are sex links, they look different right from the start - pullets are various red shades, and cockerels are white, sometimes with red splashes.

If your birds are hatchery breed sex links, then Ellie is a boy.

 

[drumstick diva]

Cockerel

 

[itspebbl]

Since Isa's are sex links, they look different right from the start - pullets are various red shades, and cockerels are white, sometimes with red splashes.

If your birds are hatchery breed sex links, then Ellie is a boy.

2x

 

[debid]

I disagree.

That is a very light one but it isn't white with red patches bleeding through. The whole head/neck/chest is light red as is the back peeking out from under the wings.

That's a pullet if it came from a hatchery. It will gain color as it molts in another week or two but there is some variation in red/white proportion and she'll never be as dark as your darkest chick.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

I disagree.

That is a very light one but it isn't white with red patches bleeding through. The whole head/neck/chest is light red as is the back peeking out from under the wings.

That's a pullet if it came from a hatchery. It will gain color as it molts in another week or two but there is some variation in red/white proportion and she'll never be as dark as your darkest chick.

Agreed, not only is the color not right for a male BSL it would have a much pinker/redder comb. Since BSLs are hybrids you will get one here and there that isn't perfectly like described. A better picture would help confirm.

 

[debid]

BTW, I mentioned if it came from a hatchery for good reason. Some people get ISA brown hens and an ISA brown rooster, breed them, and then sell the offspring as ISA brown chicks. The sex linked color coding system is lost after the first generation. And, their misuse of the name is fraud as it is a licensed brand, not a breed.

 

[1muttsfan]

I bow to the experts. Never seen an Isa pullet that light in color

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I disagree.

That is a very light one but it isn't white with red patches bleeding through. The whole head/neck/chest is light red as is the back peeking out from under the wings.

That's a pullet if it came from a hatchery. It will gain color as it molts in another week or two but there is some variation in red/white proportion and she'll never be as dark as your darkest chick.

X2....if these are hatchery direct and not isaxisa home bred birds, all are pullets.