Mystery baby

[beddyBoom]

This arrived as my "Meal Maker" chick from Meyer Hatchery so *should* be a pullet. Top of the head is yellow and the rest is mostly black with - what looks like - barred feathers starting to come in. Chick is 3 weeks old. Breed?

 

[Alice EG]

Looks like a Barred Rock

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Looks like a Barred rock to me to

 

[JedJackson]

It's either a barred rock or black sex link and I think it is a cockerel.

 

[Joeschooks]

Yep I’d say barred rock too

 

[beddyBoom]

Barred Rock was my guess, but only because it's the only barred chicken I'm familiar with. How can you tell the difference between Barred Rock, Dominique & BSL?

And why do you say cockerel @JedJackson ?

 

[sourland]

Barred rock or sex link cockerel - large white head spot is an indicator.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

While free extra chocks are frequently cockerels, the meal maker echoes the order dof the order is laying pullets they send a free pullet of a laying breed.
This looks like a barred rock and thus far is feathering in a pullet pattern. Not seeing sex link (yes barring would mean malevif it was a bsl) and comb is not correct for a dom.

 

[JedJackson]

Barred Rock was my guess, but only because it's the only barred chicken I'm familiar with. How can you tell the difference between Barred Rock, Dominique & BSL?

And why do you say cockerel @JedJackson ?

The head spot is my main reason. On barred rock pullets it should be smaller and more clearly delineated and a black sex link pullet won't have that spot at all. Ol Grey Mare is right, though, the barring pattern is correct for a BR pullet. So it could go either way but I'm still leaning cockerel. The comb just looks like that of a cockerel to me for that age. I do hope it is a pullet for your sake, though!

 

[beddyBoom]

Thank you, all! Super helpful insights. Truth be told I would absolutely LOVE a rooster in my flock, but I'm in city limits. I will remain hopeful that it's a pullet!