These chickens are not true Barred rocks right? I bought them from Rural King as 3 day old chicks in February 2023. Supposedly from Mt. Healthy.

[Kathy Coan]

Yeah, they're definitely not Barred Rocks with all those different colors and the males not being pure for barring. Marans can similarly be ruled out, and because Marans have white skin, not yellow skin.

Feather sexing by the wing feather pins doesn't work for all chicks, for the record; it requires that the parents have the correct genetics to make a sexlinked cross for feathering speed in their offspring, and otherwise works about as well as flipping a coin. Sometimes you do get lucky and get tails 8 times out of 10 flips.

Here is what the chicks looked like when we first bought them. They looked like barred rocks. Hard to tell with brooder light.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are the sexlinked males? My sexlinks I make look very similar, though mine are far smaller

 

[Kathy Coan]

I definitely have 8 pullets and 2 roosters

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Here is what the chicks looked like when we first bought them. They looked like barred rocks. Hard to tell with brooder light.

The brooder light makes it impossible to tell, but based on how they look now, I believe you on that. That's another reason to believe they're not Bielefelders, as Bieles would be brown with chipmunk stripes as chicks.

Are the sexlinked males? My sexlinks I make look very similar, though mine are far smaller

I only see 2 obvious males in the pictures provided, the rest look like pullets.

 

[Kathy Coan]

I have mutants lol

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The brooder light makes it impossible to tell, but based on how they look now, I believe you on that. That's another reason to believe they're not Bielefelders, as Bieles would be brown with chipmunk stripes as chicks.




I only see 2 obvious males in the pictures provided, the rest look like pullets.

Oh shoot, you're right. Completely blanked that it was more than the 2 boys

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

These are my new TSC Bielefelder chicks:

They are bigger already, but the definitely look more like welsummers than barred rocks.

 

[Kathy Coan]

These are my new TSC Bielefelder chicks:
View attachment 3489158
View attachment 3489167
They are bigger already, but the definitely look more like welsummers than barred rocks.

Very pretty. You're right what I have are something else.

 

[TRALALARA1]

I would hazard a guess that they are rir x barred rock. I have a bunch that look like their daddy. some look like they might be red. I’m rea looking forward to seeing how they grow out.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I don't know. The kid that was helping couldn't tell me much. They weren't marked on a sign. I asked to make sure if they were barred rock straight run and the kid said yes. I used the feather I'd tactic and was able to pick out 8 pellets out of 10. Not bad for my first time. Lol. However I have had barred rocks in the past and they were never this huge at 8 weeks.

I've observed a few things in working retail and other jobs for 46 years, and that is to be cautious when 'kids' and other young people profess their knowledge. Now wait a minute, don't blast me - I'm not bashing young people who truly DO know what they're talking about (and there are plenty who could teach me a few things!). I've just noticed that many young people, often in low-paying starter jobs, are very eager to appear knowledgeable and helpful, to not only impress their customers and their boss, but also for the boost to their own still-developing self-esteem. Their eagerness to please and not appear 'dumb' in front of older folks often overrides the common sense of knowing when to admit you do NOT know it all.

Life advice to young folks: It's OKAY to say "I don't know the answer to that." You won't look dumb; you'll actually get MORE respect for being honest. "I don't know the answer, but let's find someone who does" works wonders, and might actually prevent your customer from making a huge mistake, losing money, or becoming angry - or all three.

There, I feel better now. That's twice in one hour I've vented about something. Carry on!!!