8 week olds - did I guess right?

[K0k0shka]

This is my first time hatching and raising chicks this young. I think I’m pretty sure who’s who, but would still like your confirmation. They are all 8 weeks old. Lemon Cuckoo Orpington, Silver Laced Orpington, Partridge Orpington and Silver Laced Barnevelder. Here are the ones I’m pretty sure about:

Girls:

Boys:

And this last red one (my only Partridge Orpington) I’m pretty sure is a boy, but it’s my kids’ favorite and I have one tiny last hope it might surprise us... Comparing it to the others, it’s much smaller than any of the other boys, and its comb is between the boys’ and the girls’ in terms of size. It doesn’t start any fights (unlike the other boys), but if provoked, will stand its ground and fight the other boys (unlike the girls, who back down after a few exchanged pecks). It’s high in the pecking order despite its small size and usually gets what it wants (good spot at the feeder or in my lap) but not by pecking or fighting for it, rather by just elbowing its way through or pushing the others aside. All of that could just be the tactics of a small boy among big boys, or could it be that it’s not a boy but a pushier girl? It’s very calm and mellow with people, the friendliest of all the chicks. What do you guys think? Here it is:

 

[chickenlittle21]

I agree with you and your patridge orpington is a boy.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Looks like you guessed right on all of them to me.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I agree with your guesses. The Partridge Orp is definitely a boy. Females are a different pattern entirely. Here's a picture of my Partridge Orp pullet for comparison, she's a bit young in the picture, but the color difference is still there.

 

[K0k0shka]

Thanks everybody! That’s too bad about the partridge... We love him so much It helps to see a pullet to compare against, since he’s my only one. He’s definitely missing the lacing pattern. I’ll get him a no crow collar and give him one last chance, but if he’s too loud or too rough with the females or makes the wrong move against my kids, he’ll be soup.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have a Lavender Orpington and he’s very quiet and gentle. He didn’t even crow or try to mate at all until like 6 months old even now, at 7 months, he’s still quiet and really doesn’t crow at all except once in the morning. So maybe yours will be quiet too he’s also a wimp and runs away if the girls so much as look at him wrong

 

[K0k0shka]

I have a Lavender Orpington and he’s very quiet and gentle. He didn’t even crow or try to mate at all until like 6 months old even now, at 7 months, he’s still quiet and really doesn’t crow at all except once in the morning. So maybe yours will be quiet too he’s also a wimp and runs away if the girls so much as look at him wrong

That’s very reassuring, thank you! If he’s nice, I’ll let him live. So far he’s been very calm and friendly, and the most patient with my kids, but he’s no wimp at all I guess we’ll wait and see.

 

[ShrekDawg]

That’s very reassuring, thank you! If he’s nice, I’ll let him live. So far he’s been very calm and friendly, and the most patient with my kids, but he’s no wimp at all I guess we’ll wait and see.

Hopefully he will be nice!! My boy also had a bunch of other cockerels as well older hens to boss him around so I think that helped! Haha I’ve since rehomed the other cockerels but the hens don’t put up with any nonsense they even defend each other when he tries to mate

 

[K0k0shka]

Hopefully he will be nice!! My boy also had a bunch of other cockerels as well older hens to boss him around so I think that helped! Haha I’ve since rehomed the other cockerels but the hens don’t put up with any nonsense they even defend each other when he tries to mate

I don’t have any other chickens besides this batch of hatch-mates, so nobody else to boss him around... but hopefully the bigger boys will keep him in check for as long as they’re around, and hopefully he stays nice after they go

 

[ShrekDawg]

I don’t have any other chickens besides this batch of hatch-mates, so nobody else to boss him around... but hopefully the bigger boys will keep him in check for as long as they’re around, and hopefully he stays nice after they go

I’m sure that will help!! The boys tend to like to bicker a bit early on and establish their pecking order then they’re usually good. at least mine were.