6 Week Bantam Pair - Breed AND Gender

[WannabeHomsteader]

Hello everyone!

I have eight feather-footed bantams from TSC. All are about 6 wks. I only have two breeds in the whole batch - this "blonde" breed and the "brown" breed (as shown in photos). I'm including photos of only 2 chicks, 1 brown and 1 blonde. I also need help determinining if these specific 2 chicks shown are cockerels or pullets.
The blonde one looks sick because it is - I am trying to determine a treatment plan atm, but it depends on whether it's a "he" or a "she". I can't keep roosters where I live.

Sorry I couldn't get "standalone" photos where I'm not holding them. I tried and one nearly escaped.

All the other confirmed cockerels of both breeds in my flock have much more pronounced, red combs.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I'm gonna say buff columbian bantam cochin pullet for your blonde (don't see enough markings for like a mille fluer booted bantam or duccle)

The second looks like a partridge bantam cochin, cockerel, because I'm not a huge fan of early wattle development this early

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

Hello everyone!

I have eight feather-footed bantams from TSC. All are about 6 wks. I only have two breeds in the whole batch - this "blonde" breed and the "brown" breed (as shown in photos). I'm including photos of only 2 chicks, 1 brown and 1 blonde. I also need help determinining if these specific 2 chicks shown are cockerels or pullets.
The blonde one looks sick because it is - I am trying to determine a treatment plan atm, but it depends on whether it's a "he" or a "she". I can't keep roosters where I live.

Sorry I couldn't get "standalone" photos where I'm not holding them. I tried and one nearly escaped.

All the other confirmed cockerels of both breeds in my flock have much more pronounced, red combs.

Hi, there! Considering that you got your chicks from TSC, I would guess that the blonde chicks could be either bantam Brahmas or mille fleur d’Uccles. Both breeds are very well-tempered!

I haven’t seen a chick quite like your brown one. Though, the partridge bantam Cochin guess sounds spot on!

The blond chick is almost definitely a pullet! However, I’m not too sure one way or another about your brown chick. If anything, I’d lean more towards guessing pullets for both!

Best of luck with them!!!

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

I'm gonna say buff columbian bantam cochin pullet for your blonde (don't see enough markings for like a booted bantam)

The second looks like a partridge bantam cochin, cockerel, because I'm not a huge fan of early wattle development this early

Thank you for your insight!

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

Hi, there! Considering that you got your chicks from TSC, I would guess that the blonde chicks could be either bantam Brahmas or mille fleur d’Uccles. Both breeds are very well-tempered!

I haven’t seen a chick quite like your brown one. Though, the partridge bantam Cochin guess sounds spot on!

The blond chick is almost definitely a pullet! However, I’m not too sure one way or another about your brown chick. If anything, I’d lean more towards guessing pullets for both!

Best of luck with them!!!

Thank you!

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

I'm gonna say buff columbian bantam cochin pullet for your blonde (don't see enough markings for like a mille fluer booted bantam or duccle)

The second looks like a partridge bantam cochin, cockerel, because I'm not a huge fan of early wattle development this early

I think you're right about the partidge cochin breed - they look more like little featherballs every day! I hope you're wrong about it being a cockerel, though. They're beautiful, I'd love to keep at least one. And the other partridge I have is DEFINITELY, without a doubt, a cockerel. He has a very big comb, compared to this one pictured. Is it normal to have such a huge difference in comb development, even among birds of the same breed? They're almost the same size, and (I'm assuming) the same age. I might be grasping at straws here!

 

[Pigeony]

I think you're right about the partidge cochin breed - they look more like little featherballs every day! I hope you're wrong about it being a cockerel, though. They're beautiful, I'd love to keep at least one. And the other partridge I have is DEFINITELY, without a doubt, a cockerel. He has a very big comb, compared to this one pictured. Is it normal to have such a huge difference in comb development, even among birds of the same breed? They're almost the same size, and (I'm assuming) the same age. I might be grasping at straws here!

Yes, it is normal for there to be variation in comb development even with same breed and same gender. There's individual variation, every chicken grows at their own pace. Additionally with males, comb development is partially based on testosterone levels, and a more dominant developing cockerel can actually inhibit the testosterone levels of less dominant cockerels he's raised with.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I'm gonna say buff columbian bantam cochin pullet for your blonde (don't see enough markings for like a mille fluer booted bantam or duccle)

The second looks like a partridge bantam cochin, cockerel, because I'm not a huge fan of early wattle development this early

d’Uccle’s form of the mottling gene doesn’t present like other breeds and can develop later.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

First is a Mille Fleur d’Uccle and second a Partridge Cochin Bantam. Both are pullets

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

Additionally with males, comb development is partially based on testosterone levels, and a more dominant developing cockerel can actually inhibit the testosterone levels of less dominant cockerels he's raised with.

Oh noooo the confirmed partridge cockerel is the dominant one of the entire flock (I call him Mr. Big Shot, he's a bossy dude!) I'm still hoping the other one will be a pullet. Thank you for the info though, that's helpful!