Backyard Chicken Farmers

[the_great_white]

It's just one of them though, is that normal?

the others will start soon. that's just what they do......i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[CliffB]

With most of my Barred Rock chicks the males have lighter colored legs while the females usually have a dark gray "wash" down the front of theirs. Judging from your pics, the first chick is a roo and the second chick is a pullet.
It's not 100% but it's usually the case.

Here's some good info on sexing Barred Rock chicks
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/798635/sight-sexing-barred-plymouth-rock-chicks-at-hatch

Sadly another way to tell on barred rocks is the lighter colored birds are males while the darker birds are females. I am inclined to believe he has two male barred rocks based on the fact one is almost grey it is so light and neither have quite as dark of legs as you would expect for a female.

 

[CliffB]

It's just one of them though, is that normal?

You didn't happen to get the silver laced out of the straight run bin did you? Don't worry. We will have another chicken swap at the end of next month also for you to come get rid of your roosters.....

 

[BangBang]

Be careful, they are an addiction. Our 3 turned in to 21...

This is SO true!

Sadly another way to tell on barred rocks is the lighter colored birds are males while the darker birds are females. I am inclined to believe he has two male barred rocks based on the fact one is almost grey it is so light and neither have quite as dark of legs as you would expect for a female.

Yeah, that link I posted said that sexing them is a combination of head spot, down color and leg color. I can't figure the head spot part out and I'm not very good at spotting them by body color until they feather out. LOL It's really easy to tell the boys from girls once they have feathers.

 

[Laces_Out_Marino]

You didn't happen to get the silver laced out of the straight run bin did you? Don't worry. We will have another chicken swap at the end of next month also for you to come get rid of your roosters.....

I grabbed the silver laced from a local feed store and they said there is a 90% chance of pullets.

 

[Laces_Out_Marino]

You didn't happen to get the silver laced out of the straight run bin did you? Don't worry. We will have another chicken swap at the end of next month also for you to come get rid of your roosters.....

I will definitely try to make that one. its a little bit of a drive though.

 

[Laces_Out_Marino]

Sadly another way to tell on barred rocks is the lighter colored birds are males while the darker birds are females. I am inclined to believe he has two male barred rocks based on the fact one is almost grey it is so light and neither have quite as dark of legs as you would expect for a female.

Im gonna go back to TSC down the road today and see if I can spot some definite pullets knowing what I know now.

 

[CliffB]

Im gonna go back to TSC down the road today and see if I can spot some definite pullets knowing what I know now.

People think it's a special talent when i do it but when you look at them side by side it's quite obvious who is grey and who is black. Also look at their legs, the differences begin to be quite noticeable. I too am terrible with the head spot method so i stick with leg color and overall color.

 

[CliffB]

I grabbed the silver laced from a local feed store and they said there is a 90% chance of pullets.

The females also will start establishing a pecking order fairly on but males just have a tendency to be aggressive right out of the gate trying to establish dominance.

 

[Laces_Out_Marino]

Well I went to the TSC but the minimum is 6 and I only wanted 2 more BR pullets so I guess I have to wait till the swap meet. My wife's friend gave me a number of a local lady that sells hens that are already laying so maybe I will luck out. Gonna build the coop Sunday. We put the chicks on the grass today and they loved it.