4 weeks and rather suspicious...

[Painted Calls]

Sussex tend to get combs early. I wouldn't worry yet. Post updated pics in a few more weeks.

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks for trying. Low evening light combined with uncooperative birds is a bad combo!
Try again in the daylight. If you can take video, you can sometimes get a good screenshot from it that you would otherwise miss trying to hit the photo button at just the perfect moment.

What I’m looking for is shoulder feather development, feather color and stance. I can’t see the colors very well in those photos, nor stance, but I see very female looking tail and wing feathers. Male speckled sussex will color up differently than female, but it’s harder to pick that out at this stage. If we can’t tell now, it shouldn’t be too many more weeks before we can.

It’s been a long time since I raised straight run SS chicks. I’ve been getting just pullets lately. I remember going through the unsure stage and it was longer than some breeds but shorter than many.

I didn't know cockerels feathered in in different coloring, what am I looking for?

Sussex tend to get combs early. I wouldn't worry yet. Post updated pics in a few more weeks.

I'd like a rooster actually, but I was planing on getting a young one off craigslist or somewhere later once the girls are more grown but this works. I know it's too early but they are so ridiculously friendly that I'm leery.

 

[Finnie]

I didn't know cockerels feathered in in different coloring, what am I looking for?

I'd like a rooster actually, but I was planing on getting a young one off craigslist or somewhere later once the girls are more grown but this works. I know it's too early but they are so ridiculously friendly that I'm leery.

As I recall, the males got more black feathers, especially around the hackles, back and breast, and the females got more spots. I found a picture with both a cockerel and a pullet. Maybe this will help.

These are of course quite a bit older than yours, but you might be able to pick up on the color difference sooner.

 

[nuthatched]

As I recall, the males got more black feathers, especially around the hackles, back and breast

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