Ok so I have some barred rocks that were all black they are about 4 weeks old.. but one is starting to get cheek stuff.. you know the downward waddles.. but here is the catch.. the comb which everyone says turns bright red.. has black tips.. it is not really red at all in fact is is almost black.. so how would you tell then? I just know it seems to be getting waddles.. do hens have small waddles?
Red wattles at 5 weeks would also be a sign of a roo. Sometimes they will turn red first in darker pigmented skinned birds or birds with pea or rose combs.