20 week old Plymouth Rocks, pls help identify sex

[GongGirl]

Hi, I have 2 gorgeous 20 week old Plymouth Rock chickens that I had assumed were female. However there has been some crowing from my coop and I wondered if these 2 could be roosters. I'd appreciate your opinion. I've attached 2 photos of each.

Thanks!

 

[Ribh]

The males are generally lighter in colour in rocks. They are an autosex breed so if you paid for pullets that's what you should have as you can tell their sex from hatching.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

I’m thinking cockerels. Just my humble opinion. Have any of them squatted yet? Very beautiful chickens.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Me thinks cockerels! (S)he has large red comb and wattles

 

[GongGirl]

I’m thinking cockerels. Just my humble opinion. Have any of them squatted yet? Very beautiful chickens.

Thanks for your comment. I haven't noticed any squatting

 

[AussieJen]

I'm a newbie so limited experience, but I have eight 20 week-old pullets (not BRs) and all but 3 have very red combs/wattles as they are close to laying. I think comb colour can be a good indicator of sex when they are younger, but at this age I'd be looking more at saddle/hackle feathers. I don't have the skill to tell from your pics if there are pointed hackle/saddle feathers, so hopefully someone more experienced can give advice. I also note I've had a hen that crowed, it's not uncommon in an all-girl flock. Best wishes!

 

[rebrascora]

Are you sure about age on these two and do you have any photos of them when they were about 10 weeks. My gut feeling is that they are both cockerels. I am more certain of the second than the first in that respect even though it's comb and wattles are slightly less developed. My reasoning is the lighter feather colour... it has broad white bars on those wing feathers particularly which is an indication that it is homozygous for barring ie it has 2 copies of the barring gene whereas females just get one and it's very upright posture and thick shanks. It is the lack of obvious male pointed hackle and saddle feathers at this age which are making me less sure. These normally develop around 15 weeks and should be pretty obvious by 20weeks.

 

[Gray Farms]

They are both cockerels. Barred Rock pullets would look much different.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Both cockerels

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

You’ve got yourself 2 gorgeous cockerels!