10 day australorps

[Casa de Pollo]

The two in the center are Audtralorps, the one drinking has a distinct tail. The other has no tail forming at all. Does that suggest cockerel?

 

[Acre4Me]

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The two in the center are Audtralorps, the one drinking has a distinct tail. The other has no tail forming at all. Does that suggest cockerel?

Not necessarily. They are pretty young. I just reviewed pics of our BA from 2018. We had gotten 3 females and 1 male (requested a male). Not seeing any tail feather differences between them. I've seen feathering differences in young chicks like this, but they quickly catch up, so I think maybe you need to wait a bit longer to see other signs of a male.

I've only seen a distinct tail feathering difference between males and females once, with BJG. We had one male and one female (they were straight run, so we didn't know that until later). The male had essentially no tail for months, while the female developed her tail feathers. However a sample size of 1 per sex is not definitive, and was quite likely just a fluke. We got more straight run BJG from the same source last year - ending with 2 males and 1 female and the tails of the three grew at a similar rate. Overall, I'd say that we just saw some individual growth variations in that breed.

re-post pics around 7-8 weeks old. Take pics from the side, with them standing. Also make sure comb and wattles can be clearly seen.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

totally agree with above. There's no way of knowing for sure until they're 6-8 weeks old.

 

[Casa de Pollo]

Thanks for the good news! I can’t have roosters in my hood. But I’m still leaning towards rooster. The difference in the two birds is pretty distinct. Hope I’m wrong...

 

[Acre4Me]

Thanks for the good news! I can’t have roosters in my hood. But I’m still leaning towards rooster. The difference in the two birds is pretty distinct. Hope I’m wrong...

luckily, any boy probably won't crow loudly or at all until closer to 4 months or older. You'll know before then by feathering and comb/wattle growth. Comb and wattles should be very different by 6-8 weeks of age if you actually have a male and a female. Around 12 weeks, the saddle feathers on a male become more obvious. Some breeds, the males will have much thicker legs, but I wouldn't judge only based on that.

Getting rid of a male:
1. Post ad at the local feed store.
2. Post ad on CL
3. Ask friends to take, if they (or friend or relative) has a flock.
4. Call county extension office, or county 4-H office (often the same or they share a building). See if any 4-H kids that show chickens wants a male chicken.
5. Understand that once you give or sell a chicken, it is no longer yours and sometimes they get eaten. Even if you sell/give to someone who states they will not eat it, they still may do so. You may be very practical or realistic and not feel this way at all, so just noting a common theme seen on BYC.

Good Luck - Hope you do actually have 2 females!