sex determination of 4 week old Barred Rock chicks

[speckledhen]

The pullets almost always have a darker leg front, but remember, we are talking about today's modern hatchery BRs, too. It may not be as true with show quality/breeder BR chicks. And it is not 100% accurate, plus the color is in varying degrees, as well. If you get a chick that is very dark overall, plus has very dark leg fronts and a tiny headspot, you can be about 95% sure you have a pullet. The old wives tale is the thing about holding by their heads and having them kick or their legs hang.

 

[megaen]

Sorry I'm trying to upload pictures on photobucket but I'm having a terrible time with it! I have a mac...does anyone else have trouble?

 

[Chicken Cluck]

Try and google Mcmurray hatchery they have good chicks there. They're easy to ship!

 

[Eggseronious]

Because males are the homozygous sex, they have two barred alleles (BB) and are therefore lighter in color than the females, which are the heterogametic sex and have only one barred allele(B_). The guy was right on sexing by the color of the shanks and heads also. This gene came from the Dominique that passed on to the Plymouth Barred Rock.

 

[megaen]

OK I finally got the images on photobucket! Sorry to take so long.

Here are pics of the chicks:

This one is Josie, and I'm pretty sure she's a boy. His/her waddles and comb have started to develop and he's a lighter grey.

This is Lillith, and i'm pretty sure she's a girl. Her comb and waddles haven't developed at all yet and she's a darker black color with very little white.

This is Thekla and I'm not sure if she's a boy or girl. Her combs and waddles are starting to develop but her coloring is darker, with wider white stripes than Lillith's. Thekla and Josie appear to be having some little dominance stuff going on, where they stand up really high and try to peck at each other and flap their wings. Lillith stays out of it usually.

Any help you can give would be great.

Also, I've noticed that they've started to lie on their side a little and lift or stretch out their wings under the light. Does that mean they're cold?

Thanks so much. You are all so knowledgable about this subject!

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I am not sure on the sex but my chicks have started laying on their sides and stretching out. I always worry that something is wrong with them.

 

[mmajw]

Looks like your Josie and Thekla are really a Joseph and a Theo. At least Lillith is a Lillith.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree with that assessment.

 

[beefy]

Looks like a Lillith, Frasier, and Niles.

 

[legacyln]

Beefy you're too funny!

Yeah, Lillith has two boyfriends.

megaen-- They are pretty birds! I got Dominique chicks and discovered I had waaay too many boys, only kept one. Interestingly, out of my 8 cockerels, one's comb was much less red, wattles smaller and his color was darker than all the other boys (but still liughter than the girls). I actually thought for a while he was a masculine pullet, but later on was sure he was a boy. I kept him and sold the rest, and he is the tamest and sweetest of the bunch. I never intedned to have a roo at all but he's my favorite. You'll love their personality-- very laid back!