Silver Laced Wyandotte or Black Australorp? ***Alleged Pullet***

I don't have any prior experience with Wyandottes.

Meet Gilly (far right in first pic). This chick is approximately six weeks old. "She" developed the huge single comb and waddles within the last week. She's supposedly a Silver Laced Wyandotte, but I have serious doubts.

The farm center (which has a very good reputation) where I got her says they still believe she's a she (I showed them the photos today.) They say that SLW often develop combs and waddles early.

I'm not so sure, but a girl can hope.

Evidence for cockerel:

Huge red comb and waddles!

Assertive and obviously alpha in this flock of three baby chicks (though not yet doing any especially rooster like)


Evidence against cockerel:

Although "she" started out bigger than the other two (a Buff and a Gold Laced Wyandotte), she is actually now the smallest of the three, who are two weeks younger.

"Her" head is shaped like a pullet, according to the SLW expert at farm center

And they claim she was sexed


Do I start calling her Gill?

If it's a roo, I won't be able to keep him because we live in city limits, where they're illegal, and I'm already attached. Sad because it's a very calm, tame chick, and is going to make a good pet chicken.

Oh and is this definitely a SLW? The comb is unusual (don't they have rose combs rather than single combs?) I'm wondering if it's actually an Austrolorp.

Yep it looks like a roo. I don't think its a SLW, it would have some silver by now, and yours is black. I think you are right in your guess, a BA.

At that age that is 100% cockerel! There is no possibility for it to be a pullet!

Agree it's a cockerel, and not a Wyandotte. Yes, Wyandottes can sport straight combs, but they also have yellow legs, and the silver would be evident by now. If they're guaranteeing pullets, they need to make it right for you. I'd be leery of a Wyandotte "expert" who doesn't even know what leg color they're supposed to have. Just sayin'.

X4 on cockerel.

Here he is tonight, at just under 7 weeks. I'm 100% convinced he's an Australorp male. I'm going to be so sad to have to re-home this guy. I want to keep him so badly. He's an angel.

Well, Gill(y) didn't make us wait to long.

He made his first attempt at crowing this morning. It's was freaking adorable.

Here's Mr. Bantam Australorp Rooster, Gill, four months later. Look at that tail!
His new human tells me that he has a harem of 9 full-size hens all to himself and that he's very happy.

I'm glad he found a good home.

Doesn't really matter, but he's not an Australorp at all. I'm not a bantam person so don't know what comes with those big white lobes--Dutch bantams, maybe? I'll leave what he is to the bantam folks.