12 Week Old New Hampshire, Pullet or Cockerel?

[Smokerbill]

I thought signs of being a male would be obvious at 12 weeks old, but I just don't know. The bird in question is in front, left side of the picture. It grew faster and is the largest of all the others, and quite a bit larger than the smallest pullets. I see a hint of red wattles forming, but maybe it just matured quicker than the others. Its legs and feet are larger too.

 

[WingItRanch]

These all look like pullets to me.

 

[redinator]

These all look like pullets to me.

x2

 

[Smokerbill]

These all look like pullets to me.

x2

I figured that was probably the case but wasn't sure. Thanks for verifying!

I still think it's strange that there is so much difference in growth rate and size in my batch of 7 New Hampshires. They were all purchased from the same bin in early April.

I have a pair of New Hampshire cockerel chicks I bought from a different source and plan to eventually start hatching eggs from the fastest growing, largest pullets as meat birds, or dual purpose if they lay well too.

 

[WingItRanch]

I figured that was probably the case but wasn't sure. Thanks for verifying!

I still think it's strange that there is so much difference in growth rate and size in my batch of 7 New Hampshires. They were all purchased from the same bin in early April.

I have a pair of New Hampshire cockerel chicks I bought from a different source and plan to eventually start hatching eggs from the fastest growing, largest pullets as meat birds, or dual purpose if they lay well too.

I have 2 Welsummers from the same hatchery that look identical but one is significantly larger. Who knows!

 

[redinator]

I figured that was probably the case but wasn't sure. Thanks for verifying!

I still think it's strange that there is so much difference in growth rate and size in my batch of 7 New Hampshires. They were all purchased from the same bin in early April.

I have a pair of New Hampshire cockerel chicks I bought from a different source and plan to eventually start hatching eggs from the fastest growing, largest pullets as meat birds, or dual purpose if they lay well too.

Sounds like plan.

I plan to have a breeding flock of mixes of my friendliest birds to sell. The feistier pullets/hens will be my layers to sell farm fresh eggs. Excess males will go in the freezer.