8 week old barnyard mix, male or female?

[fat brown hen]

Sorry

it's okay, thanks for letting me know... at least I will try to learn from my mistakes. Doesn't the one on the left look like it has pointy neck feathers? I thought those were hackle feathers.

 

[ShrekDawg]

it's okay, thanks for letting me know... at least I will try to learn from my mistakes. Doesn't the one on the left look like it has pointy neck feathers? I thought those were hackle feathers.

That one could possibly be a cockerel, not 100% sure. But the other is a pullet.

 

[fat brown hen]

thanks... well, lesson learned-- always double-check here first before listing free "roosters" on craigslist!

 

[ShrekDawg]

thanks... well, lesson learned-- always double-check here first before listing free "roosters" on craigslist!

You’re welcome and sorry you had to learn the hard way

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Distinguishing between a cockerel and a pullet can't be done based on one factor, like pointy tail feathers. There are other signs and factors that, taken together, can make the difference. Like size and redness of the comb and wattles, thickness of legs, appearance of thin, pointy saddle feathers, variance of the shape and length of tail feathers, behavior (even as babies, the boys are more assertive, girls more timid), and so on. Of course it can vary from breed to breed, and at different ages.... so it's not always easy to tell until they either crow or lay an egg.

This spring, I posted some photos of a few 8-10-week old mostly black chicks that I had trouble identifying - and I usually have no trouble. They had some of the signs of a cockerel, but not enough to be certain. I needed help. A couple of members here ID'd them as cockerels based on a tiny spot of red feathers on their shoulders, and that was due to the hybrid breed. They were right.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Doesn't the one on the left look like it has pointy neck feathers? I thought those were hackle feathers.

Many of my hens have pointy hackle feathers, too. That's one feature I don't count on at all. Like the nubs for spurs; some of my hens have spurs, too.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The two you gave away are cockerels.

 

[fat brown hen]

The two you gave away are cockerels.

Do you think the one I still have is a cockerel also? All three look quite similar to me :\

 

[MysteryChicken]

Do you think the one I still have is a cockerel also? All three look quite similar to me :\

No, that's a pullet 100%.

 

[fat brown hen]

No, that's a pullet 100%.

Okay, now I'm really confused! What do you see in the two that I gave away, that is different from the one I still have?