Abner is a 7-week old presumed cockerel. His dad is a Bielefelder and mom is a Wyandotte/Black Copper Marans.
I had gotten good at determining gender of my Wyandotte mixes within the first few days due to their comb appearance. Cockerels combs are wide and yellow- distinct. Pullets combs are narrow, dark, less distinct. Shortly after hatch, I determined that Abner was a cockerel.
But I was wrong about Abner’s half sister, Stanley (now Shtaron… any MIB fans?) so maybe I’m over confident about Abner. He does have some other cockerel characteristics- his legs are wide and he’s larger than the similarly aged buff Orpington pullets I have. his personality is “terrified of the world” but his broody momma raised him that way- so I don’t know if that’s really a clue or not.
These pics are 7 weeks:
6 weeks:
20 days:
I had gotten good at determining gender of my Wyandotte mixes within the first few days due to their comb appearance. Cockerels combs are wide and yellow- distinct. Pullets combs are narrow, dark, less distinct. Shortly after hatch, I determined that Abner was a cockerel.
But I was wrong about Abner’s half sister, Stanley (now Shtaron… any MIB fans?) so maybe I’m over confident about Abner. He does have some other cockerel characteristics- his legs are wide and he’s larger than the similarly aged buff Orpington pullets I have. his personality is “terrified of the world” but his broody momma raised him that way- so I don’t know if that’s really a clue or not.
These pics are 7 weeks:
6 weeks:
20 days:
