6 week sexing

[ldirk7]

Tis the season! I have 3 chicks this year, at 6 weeks. I know that it’s normally 8 weeks but I wanted to check because I have suspicions.

#1- Vivian- silver laced Wyandotte, so far I think pullet

#2 Estelle- speckled Sussex, so far I think pullet

#3 Pearl- EE, this one has some tail feathers that have me leaning cockerel. I sure hope not, he/she is so pretty!

Group shot:

 

[DemeterAD9]

So far they all look like girls to me. I’d be more convinced the Sussex is a boy than the EE. For comparison here’s a SLW mix showing his very apparent red rose comb and waddles, also at 6 weeks old.

Plus an EE cockerel same age and sporting a red pea comb.

Of course there can be late bloomers but you can usually tell who is what by 4-5 weeks if you know what to look for. By 8 weeks there shouldn’t be any more guessing. You can’t really tell by feather shape/length until the males grow long saddle feathers at around 8+ weeks. I think your EE just has some ruffled feathers or something funky going on in that area that makes it look like long saddle feathers. It’s coloring and comb suggest pullet to me but time will tell!

 

[ldirk7]

So far they all look like girls to me. I’d be more convinced the Sussex is a boy than the EE. For comparison here’s a SLW mix showing his very apparent red rose comb and waddles, also at 6 weeks old.
View attachment 4118557

Plus an EE cockerel same age and sporting a red pea comb.
View attachment 4118558

Of course there can be late bloomers but you can usually tell who is what by 4-5 weeks if you know what to look for. By 8 weeks there shouldn’t be any more guessing. You can’t really tell by feather shape/length until the males grow long saddle feathers at around 8+ weeks. I think your EE just has some ruffled feathers or something funky going on in that area that makes it look like long saddle feathers. It’s coloring and comb suggest pullet to me but time will tell!

Thank you!

 

[murphynhazel12]

The EE and the Sussex look like likely pullets, but the SLW I'm less sure about as those are very red wattles for 6 weeks. That one might be a cockerel IMO.

 

[ldirk7]

I have read on this forum that Wyandottes often develop more red wattles and combs early, even pullets. Otherwise I would be thinking the same thing!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

All are 100% pullets

 

[ldirk7]

All are 100% pullets

Awesome to hear, thank you!

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm not sure about the SLW (those are hard for me) but the rest appear to be pullets.