Cochin male or female?

I have 2 full-sized Cochin chicks that are 6 weeks old. I'm nervous that one could be a roo just because their sizes are SO different. The gold laced one feathered out much more quickly and is already getting quite large and plump. The silver laced one feathered out much slower and is still smaller and thinner. I don't know if size is an indicator of gender at this point in this breed?

Also, the back/tail feathers of the gold-laced look quite different than the back/tail feathers of the silver-laced - on the silver one, the back/tail feathers have the laced pattern, on the gold one, they're smaller, fluffier, black feathers. Again, I'm not sure if that even means anything?

If anyone has any insight, I'd be so grateful! Thanks!

Can't really tell from your pictures, but nothing, as far as I can see, is shoutingcockerel. I think it is possible the gold one is a fast maturing hen, but need some close-ups and individual pics of both of them.

ChickenLover200 said:

Can't really tell from your pictures, but nothing, as far as I can see, is shoutingcockerel. I think it is possible the gold one is a fast maturing hen, but need some close-ups and individual pics of both of them.

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X2

I tried getting a few more pics of their faces, to better see their wattles and combs.

The last one just shows their size difference. Of course, they are from different parents, so maybe the size difference doesnt meant anything? It just seems so drastically different!

AngieInAustin said:

I tried getting a few more pics of their faces, to better see their wattles and combs.

The last one just shows their size difference. Of course, they are from different parents, so maybe the size difference doesnt meant anything? It just seems so drastically different!

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i sort of leaning towards cockerel for the gold one, but time will tell for sure.

I've got a 7+ week old black cochin that at 4 weeks was showing red and waddles, which I'm not seeing on your birds. I think you're safe, but it is still pretty early.

This picture was at 5.5 weeks.

tmarsh83 said:

I've got a 7+ week old black cochin that at 4 weeks was showing red and waddles, which I'm not seeing on your birds. I think you're safe, but it is still pretty early. This picture was at 5.5 weeks.

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Hes a rooster for sure... I'm still unsure about the gold one above, but there is still hope for a pullet I think.

AngieInAustin said:

I tried getting a few more pics of their faces, to better see their wattles and combs.

The last one just shows their size difference. Of course, they are from different parents, so maybe the size difference doesnt meant anything? It just seems so drastically different!

Click to expand...

Both look like pullets at this point. You might possibly have one bantam and one standard size.

junebuggena said:

AngieInAustin said:

I tried getting a few more pics of their faces, to better see their wattles and combs. The last one just shows their size difference. Of course, they are from different parents, so maybe the size difference doesnt meant anything? It just seems so drastically different!

Click to expand...

Both look like pullets at this point. You might possibly have one bantam and one standard size.

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I was also thinking the silver was a possible bantam..

Oh that's interesting... I hadn't thought that one could be a bantam! But that's certainly a possibility.