7 week old Plymouth rock gender guesses

[Sarah0303]

My research tells me this is a cockerel and I've had a few chicken folk agree with me.. however I just advertised him to rehome (we can't keep roosters) and I had someone make me second guess myself. What do you think? Cockerel or pullet?

 

[Eggs82]

Definitely no expert as I’m questioning the sex of my 10 week old barred rock. But at 7 weeks mine already had a big bright comb and waddles. I’d say yours is a pullet.

 

[Sarah0303]

Definitely no expert as I’m questioning the sex of my 10 week old barred rock. But at 7 weeks mine already had a big bright comb and waddles. I’d say yours is a pullet.

Thanks for your input. It's such a guessing game it's driving me crazy

 

[Abby1116]

We are going through the exact same thing. We have a barred rock who is almost six weeks and people have guessed cockerel for him, but hard to know until the comb develops further. They said cockerel based on barring.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What do you think? Cockerel or pullet?

Hi there welcome to BYC!

I can clear this up for you.. that is a cockerel. You have 2 in that picture including the Rock and the d'uccle!

Anyways.. if your research said that on barred or cuckoo birds the cockerels will have double wide white stripes.. then it was accurate. On ladies the white barring is thinner than the black barring.

Abby.. yours is a good example of when the barring might be harder to discern. I agree cockerel on yours noting other features like thick legs. However, especially in hatchery birds.. they may not be exact matches to the standard of perfection... and I had one pullet that was very light compared to her sisters... it turned out just to be slight variation NO where near as clear as the OP's photo. Even though I think cockerel on yours.. behavior can be one good indicator before features are fully in. I would be patient for more development in this case unless behavior makes it very obvious. Sometimes those wattles or comb will turn red suddenly over night.

All birds are individuals.. and hormones will set in accordingly.. even when I KNOW the gender of my birds.. some will get their red wattles and combs later than others. Pointed saddle feathers don't usually show up until around 12 weeks at the earliest. Many of my cockerels get red wattles by 3-4 weeks of age.. which is actually very early.

I'm not actually guessing here on gender. I'm confident and possess skills.

Good luck re-homing!

 

[Abby1116]

Haha thanks! We have thought cockerel from very early on because he is a bit of a bully to the other three chicks. We already have a home lined up for him if we need it, in the rare event we don’t, that would be fine too !

 

[Sarah0303]

Hi there welcome to BYC!

I can clear this up for you.. that is a cockerel. You have 2 in that picture including the Rock and the d'uccle!

Anyways.. if your research said that on barred or cuckoo birds the cockerels will have double wide white stripes.. then it was accurate. On ladies the white barring is thinner than the black barring.

Abby.. yours is a good example of when the barring might be harder to discern. I agree cockerel on yours noting other features like thick legs. However, especially in hatchery birds.. they may not be exact matches to the standard of perfection... and I had one pullet that was very light compared to her sisters... it turned out just to be slight variation NO where near as clear as the OP's photo. Even though I think cockerel on yours.. behavior can be one good indicator before features are fully in. I would be patient for more development in this case unless behavior makes it very obvious. Sometimes those wattles or comb will turn red suddenly over night.

All birds are individuals.. and hormones will set in accordingly.. even when I KNOW the gender of my birds.. some will get their red wattles and combs later than others. Pointed saddle feathers don't usually show up until around 12 weeks at the earliest. Many of my cockerels get red wattles by 3-4 weeks of age.. which is actually very early.

I'm not actually guessing here on gender. I'm confident and possess skills.

Good luck re-homing!

Thank you for your info. I was so confident he was a Cockerel so it's nice to have the confirmation.

The other one is a Maran and yes clearly a boy also he will also be getting rehomed but he is still under 6 weeks and uses heat at night (it's winter weather here atm) so am waiting for him to be a bit older.

Fingers crossed I can find them a nice farm to go live on as we are in the suburbs and I don't think our neighbours would like us if they stay.