How to Tell a Barred Rock Rooster From a Barred Rock Hen
- 1). Observe the chicks at about a week old. Pullets generally develop wing and tail feathers before cockerels.
- 2). Observe the chicks at about five to six weeks of age. Cockerels generally develop combs at this age. The combs begin developing and turn a more prominent red color. Cockerels at this age start to gain size over the pullets.
- 3). Observe the young chickens at two to three months of age. Cockerels will start developing hackle feathers. Hackle feathers form the rooster's "mane"--that heavy over-coat of feathers that cover the rooster's neck.
- 4). Observe the chickens from three months to nine months of age. Barred rock cockerels will have wider white "bars" in their feather pattern than Barred rock pullets. Cockerels will have a larger comb and wattle and will develop spurs on their legs.
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