Yes I am stupid when it comes to barred rocks but I will learn. pics

[HeatherLynn]

Ok soooo I need a review. Last year I paid a ton extra for the promise of barred rock pullets.I had ALL males For the record I had 16 "I promise they are pullets" that turned out male. And another 12 " golden commet I promise they are pullets" that after a year had never laid an egg despite all the advise I got and effort I put into it. That did not deter me. Heck no. I'll just build a HUGE coop, an even BIGGER run. Heck yea lets go all out. So once I got that sorted out and had everyone tell me the generally accepted way of telling I apprently got slapped stupid because I forgot. Soo I went to start all over this year. So this time I went to Orchelen farm store and I got a mix of pullets. We are sure these are pullets right. Yep definitly pullets. So I got some barred rocks again with HUGE yellow spots on the head. But in thinking about it I was like are the spots for the girls or boys I don't remember. Sooo I went back they are now selling ALL BLACK barred rock pullets. They told me both colors are female. Its just coloring differences. I know that is wrong so now I think I might have messed up again. thankfully thats only 3 of the ones I got. I am praying that most of the chicks I did get are female since I only have like 13 of em. lol

So refresher course for the doomed barred rock fanatic. Which gender has the huge spot?

On the upside I got the prettiest silkie for a 1.29 at the same time because the lady was insistent they do not sell silkies and its a plain barnyard mix. There was a guy there who is a silkie breeder. ( yes I got his phone number) who was buying some feed who said I did indeed get a silkie. I am hoping he is right but even if he is not its too cute. I'll post pics soon. So 5 toes and feathered feet? sound right?

Oh and anyone know what a fryer special is?

 

[speckledhen]

Heather, look at this brother/sister BR pair at 3 weeks, then 6 weeks. Hope this helps. Its not so much how big the spot is, but how defined the edges are and that it isn't "scattered".

Below is a cockerel, note the frosting across the back of the head, outside the main head spot.

 

[HeatherLynn]

So I have a really sharp edge spot, very defined, but I have frosting that looks like a halo around the spot also very defined. Almost like it was drawn on there. I went ahead and told Chris to expand the bachelors quarters just in case lol. If last year taught me anything its to just accept that there will be roosters. The good news is we moved out of town and about 45 min into the country so we are good with crowing. My sister is our neighbor and she thinks the crowing is the coolest thing ever. Granted she gets up at 4am on her own so she is already awake when they start. I wonder if they sell Hen pin ups to wallpaper the bachelor quarters in..... hmmm

 

[Frogtown]

Quote:
That hen in the middle picture has a text book Stink Eye

Pretty birds speckledhen!!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

And when they are day olds, the females will look black with the defined headspot, the males will look more gray (white mixed in with the black) and a messy headspot.

 

[HeatherLynn]

I don't think these are day olds, they already have a tiny bit of barring showing on the wings as they get real feathers there instead of fuzz. Actually they already were getting some real feathers when I got them a week ago. I do so love holding onto impossible hope They are cute regardless. Man I need more bachelors quarters built.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Then the pictures Cynthia posted apply. Males will come in with more white with black barring. Females come in more black with white barring.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Going to make my own thread.

 

[norcal]

Quote:
Yep, it's pretty noticeable that way. I do have one hen that is lighter than the other hens (and she was questionable as a chick), she's a great layer now, the matriarch, and called "lumina".

 

[HeatherLynn]

Ok so got some head shots of my "its"

and any clues on their buddies. I call the skunkies lol they are soo cute though