Sexing Barred Rocks

[mtnviewfarms]

I'm sorry to have to 'rain on your parade' here but I breed, incubate, and sell Barred Rocks and I'm very good at sexing
them at two-three days of age as that is when the people who have 'pre-ordered' from me come by to pick them up.

Most of the folks who have purchased my birds recontact me and have verified that my sexing of their chicks was accurate.

Of course, there is no guarantee at that age, and that's what I say in my advertising but from 'experience' I've gotten
pretty good at it.

I believe from what I can see in the photos that all of the birds pictured are males. My birds are all descended from my Meyer Hatchery stock but the overall darker black color in the females vs. the kind of smoky dark grey of the males and the much darker 'wash' on the front of the legs on the females with the black stopping abruptly at the toes in the females vs. the lighter grey going all the way into the toes of the male or absent wash on the males legs.

Also, female birds generally have a much smaller and more well defined white spot on their heads whereas the males have a more diffuse blotch of white on the head that, continues down the back of the neck and around the sides as well.

 

[yakibert]

I like the progressive pictures! Thanks. Mine are 7wks now.

 

[soukilee93]

Is this in regards to the first pics I posted of them? Did you see the ones I just put on today? I am pretty certain I have 1 or 2 hens in this batch. Please look and tell me what you think. It should be post 20 of this feed. I tell you there has been so much information for me to read and it all seemed to contradict each other. I really am hoping in this case you are wrong.

Thank you!

 

[soukilee93]

I am glad you are enjoying the progression of the pictures! I love to watch mine grow and it is neat to be able to share that with others. Hopefully this is something that can be of help to someone later on in sexing their chickens. I would love to see a pic of yours!

 

[changethelaw]

Oh crap. I think they gave me a Roo.

 

[glittergurrl]

I've been having trouble sexing my Barred Rocks that I got five weeks ago also, but seeing as they are both getting red in their wattles and combs, I believe them to be roos. We have six pullets. Do you think it's going to be any problem having two roos? It's not a town issue (we live in the country and if my neighbors can mow their lawn five times a day, starting a six in the morning - they can deal with roosters crowing) but do you think they'll be any personality clashing/fighting?

 

[soukilee93]

I have heard you should have one roo to 20 hens if you are going to have multiple roos but then I have heard of several people having multiple roos and no problems. Hopefully it will work out for you.

 

[Vickilynn45]

Yikes, this looks like our Pheazy. I hope it's not a roo.

Oh crap. I think they gave me a Roo.

 

[mtnviewfarms]

In #20 number two picture is probably a female as is #4 - the others have more white barring as well as the beginnings of wattles which means they are males. I 'dunno' about the last one either. If it starts growing wattles it's a boy too.

 

[mtnviewfarms]

If the Roos have been raised together since 'chickhood' they should get along well but one will become the 'dominant'
Roo of the flock and the other will always be the 'second in command' of the flock. We have two BR Roos and 12 BR Hens
which is a 'little Roo heavy' but we just sold two of our Hens. We usually have one Roo for every 7-10 females and sell
as well as hatch our own eggs and fertility is extremely high for us.