We've read conflicting information on line and it's confusing. Read that roosters are later to feather in than pullets... Also read that they are more outgoing and friendly. Also read that their tails are generally shorter as chicks. If that's true, at what age do they start getting the longer, rooster-y tails?
We're helping a friend decipher her chicks, and one is a mystery. She is a RIR that was always a "big girl" as a chick. She started feathering in many days before the other girls. Now, at 5 weeks old she's still larger than the other chicks (although she's the only RIR so maybe they are just a larger breed??? others are Wyandotte, sex link, australorp, barred rock) and she has a much longer tail!!
What do you think? Does the early feathering and long tail preclude rooster, even though the other signs (size, friendliness, not as "dainty" as the others) point to it?
We're helping a friend decipher her chicks, and one is a mystery. She is a RIR that was always a "big girl" as a chick. She started feathering in many days before the other girls. Now, at 5 weeks old she's still larger than the other chicks (although she's the only RIR so maybe they are just a larger breed??? others are Wyandotte, sex link, australorp, barred rock) and she has a much longer tail!!
What do you think? Does the early feathering and long tail preclude rooster, even though the other signs (size, friendliness, not as "dainty" as the others) point to it?
