Orpington pullet vs. roo?

[Manitobagirl]

Hello! I am wondering if anyone might have an opinion on this chicken. It’s a mottled/splash Orpington and the breeder isn’t sure either.
It’s 13.5 weeks. The comb was way bigger and pinker than everyone else before 3 weeks already and it’s way, way bigger than our other orp (same breeder, the black in the back, definitely a pullet). It only ever got in one fight with another roo right before we culled the others at about 4 weeks. It doesn’t crow, it’s very gentle.

We were kinda hoping it might be a roo but I’d love opinions because if it isn’t I’d like to have the breeder keep an eye on her grow out pen for another in the next month or so… Thanks!

 

[Theorrin]

looks pullet

 

[Manitobagirl]

looks pullet

Thank you!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

He is absolutely 100% a cockerel. ALL of this darker area is sex-specific feathering (saddle and hackle feathers). I would remain skeptical of a breeder who can't discern this because it's a quite clear trait

 

[Sussex19]

He is absolutely 100% a cockerel. ALL of this darker area is sex-specific feathering (saddle and hackle feathers). I would remain skeptical of a breeder who can't discern this because it's a quite clear trait
View attachment 3596667

^^^ This!
Definitely a cockerel

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Cockeral

 

[Chive]

I agree with the others, defiantly a cockerel. He's very pretty!

 

[SourRoses]

Definitely a cockerel.
Orps are slow to mature, my English Orps didn't start crowing until 4-5 months. We first thought we had 1 cockerel and a bunch of pullets, but the subordinate cockerels were just hiding behind pale pink faces until they were almost full grown. So when I see those red faces like your boy, it's a certainty. Surprising that the breeder couldn't tell.

I don't think he's mottled though. The pullet is split to mottled (a carrier, most of her spots will disappear but her chicks could inherit it). The cockerel has only the slightest bit of white on the tips of his feathers which doesn't really look like the mottled gene. Pictures of him younger would help to be sure though. My avatar pic is one of my split to mottled half Orp chicks.

 

[Manitobagirl]

Excellent. Thank you all so much. I appreciate it.

 

[Manitobagirl]

^^^ This!
Definitely a cockerel

This makes sense! Thank you. That makes us happy cause he is such a nice boy and we’d rather have a him than more eggs. And good to know. Next time perhaps we’ll get hatching eggs from the other breeder in province.