Backyard Poultry Forum

I've just gotten two barred rock chicks from a friend who was moving and unable to take them with her. they are about 2wks old. I've never keep this breed before but they are very cute chicks, I'm not worried if one turns out to be a rooster but would prefer that they both don't turn out to be roosters For the sake of keeping it a bit more simple ill call them chick A and Chick B.
Both chicks have the same feather development, though i did not see their wing feathers come in since they have been here I've seen their tail feathers come out and the feathers coming in on their backs all this has basically grown at the same rate in each chick. I've read that male barred rock chicks can be lighter in color than females to me mine seem to be the same shade, so i cant tell if they are considered light or dark. I have also read that female chicks will have some dark color to the fronts of their legs, again i cant seems to see a difference between my two chicks as they both have some dark color to the fronts of their legs.

the only differences i see are:
chick A's comb an wattle development look more pink than the other chick but then sometimes they both look the same. A's dot on his head (or what remains of it at this age) is a bit brighter white.
Chick B's dot on head is larger but a bit duller white, but this chick has some black on its beak (I've also read this can mean it's a pullet).

chick A head shot.


chick B head shot.


chick B closest to camera, chick A furthest form camera.


chick B closest to camera, chick A furthest from camera.


Left chick A, right chick B.


chick B closest to camera, chick A furthest from camera.


Thank you to anyone who can help me out.

Rocks can be a bit tricky at this age . One thing I will say I feel they are both the same sex AND I feel both males sorry .

that would be my luck thank you for your help Martin.

Lack of tail feathers when feathering up is one thing I've noticed with the plymouth roosters I've had

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8 DB plymouth rocks and 2 wyandottes

Don't give up yet , as I said they are difficult to tell at this age . I will say the dot on the head is not a good sign but .

Thick legs, no tail feathers... Cock-a-doodle-doo times two.

Hmmmm I've always found their barring to be pretty reliable at this age...

sorry but I too agree they look like boys!!

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Huney

There's only a very fine eggshell between genius and insanity!!

I'm on the boys bandwagon too sorry

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Wyandottes, large silver laced, gold laced & blue laced gold.

i know jack about rocks but my uneducated guess is both pullets only because to me they look feminine in their faces,not boyish.they just have girly faces.please keep us updated with them and tell us in the end.

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1 x blue leghorn,1 x buff leghorn,1 x exchequer leghorn,2 x gold spangled hamburgs,1 x black araucana,1 x white araucana

thank you everyone ill hold out hope that i may get a pullet or two. i dont mind too much if both are male im sure i could find one a nice home and keep one.

i will update the thread as they grow some more.
Thank you all again.

here they are again at now at approx 5wks old. (sorry for the terrible pictures my camera doesnt take good pictures indoors). they now have more feathers, and their tails are tiny tufts. chick A's wattles and comb are much more developed and more red, chick B's comb and wattles seem not to have developed quite as much nor are they as red. however i guess its still a waiting game.

Chick A.


both together for comparison chick A left, chick B right.


both again A left, B right.


chick B.


and chick B again.


i will update again soon with some MUCH better pictures.

i suspect a of being a boy, and b of being a girl (but i am not experienced with plymouth rocks)

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Anconas, Silkies and Pekins Caladenia Cottage
Silkies
Wonderful Silkies

MM I think 1 of each too , I found with the handful I hatched the white mark on the head was only indictive of the barring gene
all mine had it and thought they were roosters but ended up pullets the 2 I managed to hatch this year I still haven't decided what they are yet.

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Starting out to breed Australorps & Marans and a couple more

thank you Caladenia and Canna Kid for posting. i hope your both right.

I'm going with two roosters (sorry! )

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8 DB plymouth rocks and 2 wyandottes