Please sex this adolescent barred rock for me and save my marriage! - update, I have two hens - thin

[Zigmont]

Rooster for sure. The comb is big, the neck feathers are thin, he is light in color, and his tail is a dead giveaway. How could he tell you it's a hen? Here are my two Dominiques. Different breed, but similar colors.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/110447_dsc02783.jpg

 

[wenlo]

Quote:
The original chickens I took back were Ameracaunas. He said I could not rely on traditional hackle, saddle, and tail feathers to sex them because they were so different than other chickens. They were just chicks at the time - he picked them for me. After feeding the roosters for four months and winter coming on, I wanted something closer to laying age and ready for the cold. This barred rock was by itself so I could not compare it to another - which I'm pretty good at - that's why my husband is so mad at me because I should have known better.

 

[wenlo]

Quote:
Gorgeous picture.

 

[KandiandJerry]

Sounds like the farmer that you got it from needs a little more experience with chickens to me

 

[Countrypunk92]

Here is a fix to your problem, take him back and find someone else with brains. I honestly can tell you this guy is just trying to get rid of his roos, and is wasting your time. You csn tell the sex usually by young age with barred rocks.

 

[wenlo]

Quote:
I don't think it is malicious. He isn't really a farmer, he just flips hatchery stock. He has so many breeds at different sizes, it's hard to tell. I don't think he ever keeps them into adulthood.

 

[wenlo]

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I won't go again. I would not even continue, but it's just that I have so much time invested in these and being in town there are few places I can buy just two. Now it's going to be so much harder to integrate them with the older chickens.

 

[wenlo]

Thanks everyone! I do so appreciate your expertise. I'll post the replacements later, just to confirm.

 

[Evelle]

introducing itsnt that hard if you do it right..
since you have more then one to introduce you will see them kinda make a mini flock
since you have all hens it might be even easyer..
now wait at night (do you know how the head hen is??) and set them around her
at night its kinda hard to watch but try to keep the lights low and they should be fine..
since they are new there will be pecking and some fighting (pecking order and all) but it will pass just make sure it doesnt get way out of hand..
ive never had any problems i get new chicks every spring and introduce them in to my older flock.

 

[wenlo]

Quote:
Definitely know who the head hen is. Funny though, when we let these two out on the yard. The hen at the bottom of the pecking order was the first to take on the new arrivals.