3 month old Chocolate Orpingtons- hen or roo?

[Marybear]

I thought 1 was developing faster than the other, but my son thinks she's a he. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I’m on the fence, but leaning roo. Pullets do develop at different rates (even within the same breed). Very cute birds!

 

[Pukkits]

We got five chocolate orpingtons this year. While they have all gone through stages where I was *sure* one or two was a rooster, at 6 months now they are all pullets. Also, we have three different comb/wattle sizes in those five chocolate orpingtons. Even our three new lavender orpingtons each have a different height/shape comb.

I'd not make a judgment call yet. Your second photo looks just like our Fudge (in front) and Pudding (in back left). Both are laying eggs, so definitely female.

How old are they?

 

[Pukkits]

All the solid chickens in this photo are orpingtons. Aside from the buff orpington, when this photo was taken all the orpingtons were 4 months old. All are female. As you can see in the back right lavender, Marigold has quite a large comb/wattles. Currently Fudge the chocolate orpington has the same size comb at 6 months.

Your bird could still be a cockerel, I'm just letting you know our orpingtons developed at different times and still have different sized combs.

(Note, hardware cloth has been screwed in, this was during coop remodel.)

 

[tlcmurphy]

I was positive one of my BO was a roo until she laid an egg. Some Orpington pullets develop early, I wouldn’t worry unless you hear a crow

 

[Chickenpoonumber2]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/yet-another-roo-vs-pullet.1665984/

Hope this works/helps!

 

[AinaWGSD]

I agree, this is a wait and see for me. The comb and wattles are very red, but I don't see any other signs of a cockerel. At 12 weeks (3 months) you're right at the beginning of the age when male specific feathers start to come in.

 

[Marybear]

Thanks for all your informative answers! Yesterday the chicken in question was asking for attention- and when I went to pick her up she very much squatted! So I am thinking it's a girl! But now I have a new question - Should I get my lay boxes set up? They are currently blocked off. I thought Orpingtons started later. Is 16 weeks old possible to start laying?

 

[Chickenpoonumber2]

Squatting is a great sign she's a girl! I would set up the nest boxes. 16 weeks is a bit early for her to start laying but as long as no one is trying to sleep in the nest boxes it's ok. I have 2 chocolate orpingtons and one started laying at 18 weeks and the other (that is much larger and still hasn't got much red) STILL isn't laying at 22 weeks.