6 week old speckled Sussex - male or female?

[MessyJo]

We got 5 chicks a little over a month ago and we have only one speckled Sussex. She and the new Hampshire red are the smallest of the bunch, but I'm wondering if the speckled Sussex is a male. Her tail feathers droop a but and she now has a comb and waddles developing. And her back feathers seem weird and stunted.

 

[Painted Calls]

The SS is a cockerel. The drooping tail and sucked in neck are classic signs of not feeling well.

 

[cackleberryandco]

Seems to me like a cockerel. Does he feel okay?

 

[MessyJo]

Seems to me like a cockerel. Does he feel okay?

Yeah he/she seems fine. It's morning so they usually just puff up and sit under a tree after eating first thing. I assume they do that cause it's cool first thing in the AM.

 

[MessyJo]

They're all just hanging out looking for bugs.

 

[JedJackson]

It's a cockerel. He looks healthy enough to me-- maybe he was a bit cold in the first picture.

 

[MessyJo]

The SS is a cockerel. The drooping tail and sucked in neck are classic signs of not feeling well.

I meant more like the tail feathers droop like a rooster.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

HE has a bigger comb than my full grown SS hen. Have fun!

 

[cackleberryandco]

Here's my speckled Sussex for a reference. First picture is from September when she was about 7.5 weeks old, second is from a month ago- she is about 32.5 weeks old. Notice her comb size now is pretty similar to your 6 week old. And she lacks large amounts of white in one spot, which I commonly see in male Sussex. Your chick has very thick legs as well.

Some people like to see comparisons so I thought I'd add photos of Winona

 

[MessyJo]

Thanks for all the help! Now to figure out what to do with him