Trying to crow?

[ChickenChester]

Hi! I'm a newbie and have, maybe, an odd question. My son noticed a couple of the chickens stretching out their necks and opening their beaks back to back as if trying to crow, but nothing comes out. They are 3-4 weeks old. Is that just normal stretching or does it mean they are boys? Thank you.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

It sounds more like the movements they often use to adjust their crops. That being said, it could also be efforts to start crowing. If you take and post some photos we can try to help you sort out gender, while it's a bit early many cockerels are easy to spot at this point.

 

[ChickenChester]

Silver laced polish

 

[ChickenChester]

EE

 

[ChickenChester]

My other pretty girl ee.

 

[ChickenChester]

Barred Rock. Now this one I'm confused on. The place guaranteed me it was a pullet, but these threads tell me that a large yellow spot is a boy.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Barred Rock. Now this one I'm confused on. The place guaranteed me it was a pullet, but these threads tell me that a large yellow spot is a boy.

Sight sexing barred rock is not as simple as some folks would make it sound, and with hatchery stock not really applicable as the traits referred to are more reliable in lines where their breeding is careful. Chicks sold as pullets in retail settings have been vent sexed, which is generally around 90% accurate. At this point there is nothing screaming cockerel, but it is far too undeveloped to be sure of anything

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you show the legs, particularly the front of the legs and toes, and can you show a pic looking down on the chick from above to show all of the spot on the head? Did you get just the one BR? If you got a group of SR BR from the same source, it might be easier to sort their gender out. While I somewhat agree with OGM, I think a practiced eye can often pick out the cockrels in a barred or cuckoo patterned bird, but this is more reliable in some strains than others.

 

[ChickenChester]

Thank you @Ol Grey Mare and @lazy gardener. Here are some more pictures.

 

[lazy gardener]

Based on diffuse head spot and light black wash (instead of heavier black wash) on front of legs and tops of toes, I am guessing it is a male. However the black wings throws me. Is this a hatchery chick, or from a local flock? Here's an article that you might find helpful. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/798635/sight-sexing-barred-plymouth-rock-chicks-at-hatch