BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › What Breed Or Gender is This? › Are the cockerels always bigger than the pullets? pics added
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Are the cockerels always bigger than the pullets? pics added

post #1 of 7
5/10/12 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
I bought 6 Buff Orpington chicks, straight run. Two were growing tailfeathers in the first week and the other 4 still had fluffy butts. The wing feathers also grew faster and longer on those 2. When I first got them they were all about the same size, except for one which was noticably smaller. I also bought 3 RIR pullets a few days later and they started to feather out the same way 2 of the BOs did. At 3-4 weeks I was given a gold sex link. She was feathered the same way as the 5 so I really think those two are pullets, but they are much bigger than the other 4 BO. One of the 4 is my avatar and to me he looks like a cockerel with his red comb and wattles. They are even more distinctive now at 4 weeks. One of the other 4 is getting a darker and larger comb now also. The ther two don't have any comb development. Thing is, the two I'm fairly certain are pullets also have red combs, but not the wattle development seen in the guy in my avatar.

I always hear that the cockerels are bigger and have more developed combs, so I guess my questio is, is it possible that the two pullets would be bigger than the cocks and develop their combs sooner. I know the most definitive way is to see who lays eggs, but I have a question about that also...how on earth am I going to know who laid an egg?

I know it is early yet, but if 4 out of my 10 birds turn out to be "he's". I need to find a home for 3 of them.


Thanks to anyone who read this far!
Edited by Zany Chick - 5/11/12 at 6:07am

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Free range? Yea or nay?
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
post #2 of 7
5/11/12 at 4:58am

I dont go by size, there will always be some chickens who dont stick to the norm in size. To determine a boy vs girl I look at the comb development and reddness of it. Or feather sex within the first couple days.  Unless its a breed that is color sexed or one that can't be sexed.

 

 

 

                                             

Reply

 

 

 

                                             

Reply
post #3 of 7
5/11/12 at 5:13am
All my hens had red combs starting around 4-6 weeks of age. It's the strangest thing. I'm assuming it's the probios and vitamins for the first 3 months of age for a good start.

Here is my salmon Faverolle as an example at around 5 weeks of age.
600262c2-ffd2-2460.jpg

My RIR at 8-9 weeks of age.
600262c2-fff5-eebc.jpg

These are two examples I have off hand. Usually cockerels are bigger. I brought back a cuckoo maran at 4 weeks. He was double the size as the female in the same shipment. His comb was thick and very advanced. He had the strange calls coming from him, nothing like the pullets.

It's hard to wait to find out. I have one in the brooder that I'm unsure about. We are keeping the light brahma either way, boy or girl. I'm waiting for the saddle feathers that come around 8 weeks. If they don't appear, I'll assume it's a female. My LB is not top in the flock.

Usually males are more aggressive then females, but females can be nasty too. My RIR attacked me several times right before she laid eggs. She's a huge sweetie now. One thing I noticed that the male maran generated a lot more heat then the females. He was very hot to hold. I have no idea if this is common.

You can always post photos here, but sometimes you'll get very mixed reviews. I had a Cochin last year that did not begin to feather until 5 weeks of age. I bought her straight run. I was lucky. I have a nice sweet frizzle cochin that should buddy up with the Faverolle. They are very similar in temperament.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 7
5/11/12 at 5:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicole01 View Post

All my hens had red combs starting around 4-6 weeks of age. It's the strangest thing. I'm assuming it's the probios and vitamins for the first 3 months of age for a good start.
Here is my salmon Faverolle as an example at around 5 weeks of age.
600262c2-ffd2-2460.jpg
My RIR at 8-9 weeks of age.
600262c2-fff5-eebc.jpg
These are two examples I have off hand. Usually cockerels are bigger. I brought back a cuckoo maran at 4 weeks. He was double the size as the female in the same shipment. His comb was thick and very advanced. He had the strange calls coming from him, nothing like the pullets.
It's hard to wait to find out. I have one in the brooder that I'm unsure about. We are keeping the light brahma either way, boy or girl. I'm waiting for the saddle feathers that come around 8 weeks. If they don't appear, I'll assume it's a female. My LB is not top in the flock.
Usually males are more aggressive then females, but females can be nasty too. My RIR attacked me several times right before she laid eggs. She's a huge sweetie now. One thing I noticed that the male maran generated a lot more heat then the females. He was very hot to hold. I have no idea if this is common.
You can always post photos here, but sometimes you'll get very mixed reviews. I had a Cochin last year that did not begin to feather until 5 weeks of age. I bought her straight run. I was lucky. I have a nice sweet frizzle cochin that should buddy up with the Faverolle. They are very similar in temperament.

 

Your RIR gives me hope, mine look so homely now, especially next to the orpingtons!

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply
post #5 of 7
5/11/12 at 6:27am
Thread Starter 

Picture heavy for comparison.

 

Jethro

blue.jpg

 

Jethro's head

bluehead.jpg

 

Jethro and Ziva - these two pictures show the size difference. Ziva is on the right and in the front.

blueziva.jpg

bluezivasize.jpg

 

Green and Orange  Orange on top, green on bottom - comb difference

 

greenorange.jpg

 

Green and Oranges tails  Orange to the left and Green to the right - you can see their tails and combs

blueorangetail.jpg

 

Blue, Penny and Ziva

bluepennyziva.jpg

 

Two more just for fun!

chestbump.jpgorangeblue.jpg

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply

 

"Mom" to 4, "Grandma Sue" to 3.

NEW to Chickens

Caretaker of Choo Choo the boxer, Bessie the ancient beagle, Casey the cat, Spike the turtle and a bin of red wigglers!

and lucky to be the wife of one VERY tolerant and loving husband!

Reply
post #6 of 7
5/11/12 at 6:42am

Jethro, Green , and Blue all look like boys to me.

 

 

 

                                             

Reply

 

 

 

                                             

Reply
post #7 of 7
5/11/12 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zany Chick View Post

Picture heavy for comparison. Jethro Jethro's head Jethro and Ziva - these two pictures show the size difference. Ziva is on the right and in the front. Green and Orange Orange on top, green on bottom - comb difference Green and Oranges tails Orange to the left and Green to the right - you can see their tails and combs Blue, Penny and Ziva Two more just for fun!

Nice photos! I especially love the last two "Just for fun"!

Your brave to let them on the bed on such a nice quilt. I usually have a thick towel under them when taking them out in the house due to the wet poops.:p
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: What Breed Or Gender is This?

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Free range? Yea or nay?
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › What Breed Or Gender is This? › Are the cockerels always bigger than the pullets? pics added