Is it possible for a cockerel to look like a pullet in an auto-sexing breed?

[Gifa]

I got a box of chicks last month from Meyer Hatchery... One each of the following.


Blue Andalusian Female 1 $3.25
Black Australorp Female 1 $3.08
Cream Legbar Female 1 $35.00
Lavender Orpington Female 1 $20.00
Welsummer Female 1 $4.20


So, they arrived... and here in this image, I have painted a blue arrow pointing to the Cream Legbar.



On the left... there "she" is on the day "she" arrived...

On the right... there "she" is at 4 weeks old.

Look. At. That. Comb.


Is this normal comb development for Legbar pullets? or did I in fact spend $35 on a rooster I did not want, did not order... and can not keep in the city?


If it is a roo... What are my odds getting refunded by Meyer? I have attempted to contact them about this (so far, only on FB)... but have gotten no response (yet).

 

[enola]

Sure looks like a cockerel to me.

Auto sexing only works when breeders are VERY careful to make sure that female looking chicks actually mature into hens and male looking chicks mature into roosters . When a lot of money can be made on a new breed, sometimes unscrupulous decisions are made.

I would be VERY upset with MPC if this actually is a cockerel. Do you have a better picture of him?

 

[Gifa]

I got mine directly from Meyer.

 

[junebuggena]

Do you have a good picture of the back of this birds head as a chick?

 

[Gifa]

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The problem with auto-sexing breeds of hatchery stock is that the lines are not necessarily maintained in a way that allows the auto sexing characteristics to remain true. Do you have any more clear photo of the chick when you got it?

 

[junebuggena]

I meant when you first got him. Cockerels should have a clear white spot on the back of the head. That first picture you posted only shows his cute little fluffy back.

 

[Gifa]

That's the next best I've got... the legbar is the one in the middle. For some reason, all of the other photos I've got, the lav-O is standing in front of the Legbar

 

[Gifa]

There was no white spot on the back of the head... and it had the chipmunk stripes that typically indicate a pullet.

 

[Gifa]

The Legbar is standing behind the welsummer in this photo.