Instructions
Examine the chick's head. All pure Barred Rock chicks possess a white head spot. Cockerels have large, irregularly shaped head spots; while pullets have a smaller, well-defined spot.
Look at the front of the legs. Pullets have a wash of black down the fronts of their legs. The legs of cockerels are yellow and do not contain the black pigmentation.
Examine the feathers as they emerge. Pullets tend to feather out quicker than cockerels and appear to be darker shades of black and white. The cockerel has a more gray and white appearance.
How to Tell a Rooster From a Barred Rock Chicken
Since 1874, the Plymouth Rock has been a popular chicken breed in the United States for its size and egg-laying ability. Rocks come in several colors, but the best-known and most common variety is the Barred Rock, which is known for its striking black and white feather pattern. Unlike other chicken breeds, which must be vent sexed when they are only a day old, pure Barred Rock chicks can be visually sexed with a high degree of accuracy long before their combs, wattles and adult plumage become evident.