11-12 week old ?Autralorps - Roos?

[CM009]

Hello everyone! Brand new here and recently adopted a couple of ?Australorp chicks when they were around 1 week old. Not sexed as came from a hatching program at school. They’re now around 11/12 weeks old and we’re not sure if we’re dealing with 2 roosters or not…have done a bit of reading but would greatly appreciate some educated guesses! Sadly if they’re roos they’ll have to be sent to a family friend out of the city as not allowed to keep roosters where we are.

 

[JedJackson]

They are both cockerels, in my opinion. Pullets wouldn't have combs and wattles so large and red at 12 weeks.

 

[Lillith37]

You can see the sickle feathers starting to show on number 1 as well

 

[21hens-incharge]

I'm not convinced they are males.
My australorp cockerels always had bigger and redder combs than that by 8 weeks.

Any crowing going on?

 

[CM009]

I'm not convinced they are males.
My australorp cockerels always had bigger and redder combs than that by 8 weeks.

Any crowing going on?

No crowing at all. Some soft clucking only from both

 

[JedJackson]

The first one has shiny, pointy red feathers growing in on its shoulders. You can see it if you zoom in on the first photograph. To me, that means it's not a purebred Australorp and it's a male, because that is male specific feathering.

I thing the second is a male, too, but I'm not seeing male specific feathering yet. The comb and wattles are what make me think it's a cockerel. Time will tell, as always.

 

[CM009]

The first one has shiny, pointy red feathers growing in on its shoulders. You can see it if you zoom in on the first photograph. To me, that means it's not a purebred Australorp and it's a male, because that is male specific feathering.

I thing the second is a male, too, but I'm not seeing male specific feathering yet. The comb and wattles are what make me think it's a cockerel. Time will tell, as always.

Ah ok, thanks. I figured it wasn't a pure Australorp from what I’d read but didn’t realise the brown/red feathers indicate male. Interesting!

 

[JedJackson]

Ah ok, thanks. I figured it wasn't a pure Australorp from what I’d read but didn’t realise the brown/red feathers indicate male. Interesting!

It's where the reddish feathers are located that tells the tale. And also the fact that they are just now emerging. Cockerels get male specific feathering coming in around that age, and it will be located on the shoulders and saddle area, mostly.