What Gender are my 5 week old chicks? Also, possible breed?

[Sydneydanielle1]

Hello! I have four 5 week old chicks. I was told when I purchased them at tractor supply, that they were Rhode Island Reds. After posting a photo, I was told that Rhode Island Reds do not have white, and they were probably Red sex Links. Any thoughts on the Gender and breed? Any help is SOO appreciated. Three of them (Luna, Nova, and Cleo) are all very similar looking. They are more solid brown/gold. the fourth one, Cyrus, is noticeably different looking. He or she has much darker feathers, and more white. Again, thank you all so much!!

The one in the front is the different colored one.

 

[Basskids08]

Hello! I have four 5 week old chicks. I was told when I purchased them at tractor supply, that they were Rhode Island Reds. After posting a photo, I was told that Rhode Island Reds do not have white, and they were probably Red sex Links. Any thoughts on the Gender and breed? Any help is SOO appreciated. Three of them (Luna, Nova, and Cleo) are all very similar looking. They are more solid brown/gold. the fourth one, Cyrus, is noticeably different looking. He or she has much darker feathers, and more white. Again, thank you all so much!!

The one in the front is the different colored one.

They are red sex link and you have a definite male too!

 

[Sydneydanielle1]

Thank you so much! so you think that just that one is a male? I mean he is so different looking than the others. and any opinions on contacting Tractor Supply to see why they told me they were RIR's? Again, thank you, thank you!

 

[Griffinsong]

If those are Gen 1 red sex links[Hatchery birds are supposedly gen 1] then they are all girls. The darker one would just be a different cross. Males are white with a little bit of red.

If they are not gen 1 or sex links at all, then I think you have a boy because of the larger and pinker comb[RSL do mature fast], and 3 possible girls.

 

[Basskids08]

I'm pretty sure at five weeks they haven't grown into their adult feathers and the comb is red on that one, looking to turn into a male

 

[Sydneydanielle1]

Thank you!!

 

[Griffinsong]

Red sex links are specifically crossbred to be sexed by color, though. Males are born white[well, pale yellow ] and feather in white with only a little bit of reddish on the wings. I do agree the comb on that one is very red, but if that turns out to be a roo it is not a gen 1 RSL. Gen 2 don't follow the color rules but that makes them not really sex links any more.

[Barring any genetic flukes, of course.]

 

[Sydneydanielle1]

Red sex links are specifically crossbred to be sexed by color, though. Males are born white[well, pale yellow ] and feather in white with only a little bit of reddish on the wings. I do agree the comb on that one is very red, but if that turns out to be a roo it is not a gen 1 RSL. Gen 2 don't follow the color rules but that makes them not really sex links any more.

Thank you so much! so i guess with the red one, i will just have to wait and see? I will say though, that as chicks, I do not remember any being a pale yellow color. Again, Thanks so much!

 

[Basskids08]

Red sex links are specifically crossbred to be sexed by color, though. Males are born white[well, pale yellow ] and feather in white with only a little bit of reddish on the wings. I do agree the comb on that one is very red, but if that turns out to be a roo it is not a gen 1 RSL. Gen 2 don't follow the color rules but that makes them not really sex links any more.

[Barring any genetic flukes, of course.]

I do agree with your answer, I'm just thinking with hatchery birds you don't always get what you want!

 

[Wyandottes7]

They all look like Red Sex-Link pullets to me.