Sexing Barred Rocks

[Fred's Hens]

The truth is, no one can predict. Descriptions for breeds that describe them as "docile" or "somewhat aggressive" never apply to individuals, but to the breeds as a whole.

But the biggest issue is that unless you purchase birds from heritage breeders of purebred birds, lines kept for 50-100 years, you not getting a bird that may fit the breed in disposition anyhow.

Truebred breeds are far more likely to correctly reflect the breed's temperament, but hatchery stock isn't nearly as likely since the birds are not bred to the Standard and don't reflect the breed's Standard.

We have purebred, bred to the Standard, heritage Barred Rocks, and yes indeed. They are very docile and wonderful birds. We have had hatchery Barred Rocks that looked very little the breed and did not have the breed's true temperament either.

Hope that helps better understand the issues involved.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Thanks for the info, what are the chances he will be aggressive/mean too? Is it a breed known for that, etc..? What luck, first 2 chicks ever and both roosters! Bummer.

My BR rooster is not agressivr at all. He is a wonderful protector of his girls and he will run to the gate when i enter so he can make sure im not a predator, but has never acted agressive towards me or my grandkids. His hormones have been raging (been fertile) since he was 13 weeks old so thats proof that hormones dont make them mean, personalities do.

 

[GuppyTJ]

Thanks for the info, what are the chances he will be aggressive/mean too? Is it a breed known for that, etc..? What luck, first 2 chicks ever and both roosters! Bummer.

I clicked on your bottom picture to get a bigger version and I agree with Fred's Hens, definitely a roo. You can tell by the saddle feathers, very distinctly roo. Regarding your point about "first 2 chicks ever are both roos..." I feel for you. Of my first set of 10 straight run chicks, 8 were roos, 2 were pullets. I ended up getting 5 more 8 week old pullets to add to the flock. But boy, some of us have some bad luck, eh? I feel your disappointment...

I have 4 BR's and they are the friendliest, most outgoing, funny and curious chickens I have and I have 5 other breeds (Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp, Buff Oprington, Cocho Maran, Mutt/Mystery Breed). I have 8 cockerals to pick from for my roo and I'm picking the BR. As another person posted, I think he's going to be a great rooster. He's 19 weeks old but is already being very flock master like for the flock of 15 chickens. He investigates all noises, sounds the predator alarm, herds everyone up so they stay together. He started tid-bitting recently (picking up and dropping food to entice the ladies). He's got a great cock-a-doodle-do. He breaks up fights! In fact, one of the Rhode Island Reds (my least favorite of my breeds) came after me to peck at my boots (does that all the time) and the BR came over to shoo the RIR away. The BR is a juvenile rooster so he's not yet dancing very well to try to get the pullets to mate but I can see that he's starting to do it. He's also settling down and is not so aggressive when he sees the pullets and wants to mate with them. He no longer lets me hug and pet him, like he did when he was a little chick. I did this mostly so he would stay nice and be very used to me and know I was in charge, so he won't get aggressive towards me or other people. But despite the fact that I no longer pet him, he's never aggressive towards me either. He's just very busy maintaining his flock master status. Being flock master is a big job with a lot of responsibility.

Now, I will say that the BR breed does seem to have a reputation of being "mean." I've read it here in BYC a few times. In addition, just yesterday I was at Tractor Supply and a lady was there selling newborn chicks. I asked if she breeds BR's and she said "no, they're too mean." I didn't debate it with her but it's just another person who thinks this. As someone else said, there are breed traits and then there are individual personalities. It reminds me of dog breeds, some breeds have a reputation for certain traits but each individual in that breed is unique.

I really like having a variety of breeds as most of us do. I'll keep trying new breeds as time goes on but so far, I really like my BR's best.

Guppy

 

[Wetzlersmith]

Thanks for the great info! As I stated the only two chicks I had and both are Roos, the mean one has been relocated, so now my question is, will this other rooster do ok with no hens to be with? It's just him and my two ducks now (a boy and a girl). Will there be an issue with him and either one of them? Thanks everyone for your replies.. This is such a great site for newbies!

 

[Nickeechickee]

So better pics of the babies. Just over 5 weeks now. Both were bought as day old pullets from Meyer Hatchery if that helps.

Chick A. PLEASE tell me I'm paranoid and this is a girl. She is so sweet. The first chicken I have had that will willingly come up to be held and seems to look for affection. The second pics are more the true color in her comb. The first is a little darker than IRL because I was trying to tone down the flash to show the truer color of the feathers.







This is Chick B. She is much flightier and would not hold still for pics, so I'm hoping you can tell both color and come here. Her leg washing is lighter than Chick A's even though you can't see them here. Her comb is also pinking, though not as much as Chick A's.



I'm a noob, but IRL their barring looks identical to me. I can only tell them apart by the combs and by personality.

ETA: I cannot have roosters (I'm in town) so I've always bought all pullets but seem to have the worst luck. Boys will be dinner when they start to crow. I'm hoping both are girls, but will be much sadder if Chick A is a boy than if Chick B is. If both are boys I think I will pull my hair out because this is getting ridiculous. I already have at least one boy in a batch of all factory-sexed girls (Can I get a refund?!).

 

[Fred's Hens]

I know you are new, but again, no better time to learn. People learn to see the difference in the male and female Robin, they can train the eye to see the rather obvious difference between male and female Barred Rocks.

The cockerel is on top, wide, bright, white barring, as the males have two genes for barring. The female pullet below, only has one barring gene which gives the females the darker, muddier appearance.

The little cockerel, just 5 weeks old, already is showing his red comb. If you look really close he is also just sprouting his red wattles under the beak. Females won't show any of these features until nearer laying age.

Thus, what are your birds? Fairly obvious eh?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here' yet another photo two or three times a day, LOL

Again, the males and females are quite different. The eye learns to see the obvious difference.




and yet another pair.

 

[Nickeechickee]

Fred's Hens...I'd lean toward girl based on that top pic...I think they trend more towards spotty than stripy...but would you agree with me? As they get older the wattles give it away, but to me the barring looks very similar then, particularly in that pic with 3 chickens.

Do BRs pink up early? My EE roo (again, supposed to be a hen) pinked up at his age and they told me any pink in the comb was a giveaway for a roo for EEs. The red chickens I have (thinking NHR or RIR, not sure how to tell the difference) show no pink yet, and of the three white ones the only one showing pink is the obvious rooster, has wattles already (beating head on desk on that one, hoping he fattens up before he crows!).

 

[Nickeechickee]

I'm also concerned that those are wattles forming on the first one in particular, top pic. Like I said, redder in that pic than in real life, but there is definitely pink/orange there, not yellow IRL.

*biting nails nervously*

 

[Fred's Hens]

Give them another week to two weeks.

I guess what I am simply trying to do is educate. It's the "give a man a fish, versus, teach him how to fish" kinda of thing.
We have folks who post pix at just a few days with the sex question.

Frankly? What difference can it make until one knows for certain? If Meyers made a mistake, and they, like all hatcheries state that they are only 90% accurate, do they rebate you the money? Other than that, both chicks will have to be cared for, fed and watered. At 7 weeks, you'll know for certain. You can then make the decisions you need to make. Guessing at this point doesn't really gain you anything. You'll doubt the guesses. It won't settle anything in your head or heart. Guesses accomplish nothing, in my view. Nice internet chatter, but that's about it. No need to bite your nails. hahahaha

I know people want to know as soon as possible, but all answers come to the patient. There really isn't any difference in knowing at 5 weeks or 7 weeks or 9 weeks. It isn't like Meyers wants him back, if he is a he. LOL

There will be time enough to deal with the situation. But..... you will be well prepared to "make the decision" based on solid knowledge. You'll have all the information you need in the next two weeks. Thanks for posting the photos.