6 week Black Australorps- Big Foot and Little Foot

[Shezadandy]

Hi everybody!

We've got two 6 week old Black Australorps (supposed to be pullets). As they were day-olds received through the mail I can confirm that the age is accurate. The combs and wattles are pretty well identical to date but "Big Foot" is the largest chick by a good margin (21.2oz today) and has enormous legs and feet.

For Australorps, is leg size (comparative) a good predictor of sex or is it all about the comb/wattles? I wish I had more side by sides but neither is a joy to catch or handle and Big Foot is in a class of his/her own in terms of strength and use of those nails!


Day 39, Big Foot (left), Little Foot (right)



Little Foot, day 42



Big Foot, day 43


Big Foot again, day 43

 

[Chicken Girl1]

They are to young to say for sure, so could you post again in a couple more weeks?

 

[Shezadandy]

Absolutely!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

I don't see anything screaming cockerel at this point, but I would wait a few more weeks to tell for sure.

 

[BantamLover21]

I don't see anything screaming cockerel at this point, but I would wait a few more weeks to tell for sure.

x2

 

[Michael OShay]

I don't see anything screaming cockerel at this point, but I would wait a few more weeks to tell for sure.

I agree.

 

[bcarver]

Thanks for your post. I have two 8 week old birds that were to be barred rocs. Mine look just like yours. I have been unable to get a pic off my phone and onto the computer. I am almost sure they are Australorps.

 

[Shezadandy]

Thanks for your post. I have two 8 week old birds that were to be barred rocs. Mine look just like yours. I have been unable to get a pic off my phone and onto the computer. I am almost sure they are Australorps.

I'm glad I helped somebody! We've got both Australorps and Barred Rocks though 2 weeks younger. I've added a bunch of pictures showing the Barred Rocks and Australorps up through when they were easy to distinguish, and then just the Australorps as their white has disappeared and they get those shimmery highlights!

Here they are at 2 days, all darting blurs of black fluff. The chick standing in back is an Australorp, the one in front of it is a BR, and at the front the Australorp is on the left and the BR is front right.


Day 6: The chick in the way back right is BR, the 2 in the middle are Australorps, and the other BR is at the front right.


Day 13- By 2 weeks the Barred Rocks started getting those telltale white stripes while the Australorps were pretty well unchanged.

Day 17- 3 weeks in, one started worrying me about being a possible cockerel (bottom left) but is looking more pullet-y for us now. The Australorps are middle back and middle front.


Day 28: Australorps top, BR bottom




Day 28: white patches still there


Day 28: white patches still there



And now today, Day 45, no more white and those pretty greenypurpley highlights are starting to appear:

 

[Shezadandy]

And even with almost floor to ceiling, "Little Foot" was the first to breach the wall. Good midnight project sealing that up!

 

[Shezadandy]

They are to young to say for sure, so could you post again in a couple more weeks?

Here are Big Foot and Little Foot at 8 weeks old. Combs are still very light and small, though the difference in leg size seems prominent and they are readily distinguishable by feather differences. They've never been easier to tell apart.

8 weeks
Big Foot (top left), Little Foot (bottom right)


8 weeks

Big Foot (left, look at those stumps!) Little Foot (right)