Just Another Barred Rock Gender Question

[Philipiter]

Hello all -

We're new to the chicken-keeping world and have four birds, now 10 weeks old. Two reds and two rocks. The reds are distinctly different, one with a bright red comb and waddles and the other with a very small comb and small to non-existent waddles. The rocks, on the other hand, have been harder to figure out. As you can see in the pics, they both have combs and waddles that are about the same size as the red cockerel, but one is much redder and tends to be a bit more aggressive with the red cockerel. The other rock has a pinker comb and is a bit more docile. Any thoughts on the gender of the two rocks?

 

[nuthatched]

You have 3 cockerels, pulleys should not have prominent growth at ten weeks

 

[Philipiter]

Someone told me to inspect both for saddle feathers. Is that something that would be obvious at 10 weeks? If I'm looking for longer pointy feathers at the back to indicate cockerels, I don't see any. Maybe they're still too young? Something else to note, no one has started crowing yet.

Edit: just found this video and it appears that barred rock pullets should look pretty much the same as the red pullets at this point.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

The Rocks are very definitely cockerels. A shame, because a rock hen and a Red Roo will get you black star chicks.

 

[Philipiter]

The Rocks are very definitely cockerels. A shame, because a rock hen and a Red Roo will get you black star chicks.

The good news is that we have six more pullets on the way from My Pet Chicken. Two barred rocks, an olive egger, a black australorp another red, and a silkie bantam. We're going to try to keep the red roo and find new homes for the two rock roos.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

Bear in mind that they look different. The more Alpha Rock roo and the Red roo are likely to to hammer each other to see who rules the roost.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
If any of these cockerels is becoming human aggressive, he needs to be gone. Otherwise, give them time to grow some more. Maybe. One pullet is going to have a miserable time with three maturing cockerels!
You may need to separate these three boys, be ready with 'Plan B' at any moment.
Barred Plymouth Rocks do look different fairly early, the males have paler 'stripes' and bigger combs, and often thicker legs.
Mary

 

[nuthatched]

Someone told me to inspect both for saddle feathers. Is that something that would be obvious at 10 weeks? If I'm looking for longer pointy feathers at the back to indicate cockerels, I don't see any. Maybe they're still too young? Something else to note, no one has started crowing yet.

Edit: just found this video and it appears that barred rock pullets should look pretty much the same as the red pullets at this point.

It's too early for saddles and hackles. Bared rock cockerels will have brighter barring and big combs, such as yours.

 

[Philipiter]

Welcome!
If any of these cockerels is becoming human aggressive, he needs to be gone. Otherwise, give them time to grow some more. Maybe. One pullet is going to have a miserable time with three maturing cockerels!
You may need to separate these three boys, be ready with 'Plan B' at any moment.
Barred Plymouth Rocks do look different fairly early, the males have paler 'stripes' and bigger combs, and often thicker legs.
Mary

So far everyone has been friendly with us. The red roo and rock roo with redder comb like to square off on occasion, but they haven't really gotten into anything resembling a fight. Our plan is to pull the two rock roos out of the coop the weekend before our new pullets arrive.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

One pullet is going to have a miserable time with three maturing cockerels!

Mary

I can concur. I have three little dears who are living with one badly behaved boy. I am starting to have dreams about him surrounded with golden brown roast potatoes.