9 week old BO …roo?

[Backyardgardening]

About a day after hatch I almost lost this little guy(?) and had to nurse him a lot. I named him butterball as a joke…like “oh it’s clearly a rooster, we’ll just stuff him and roast him like a butterball Turkey in 6 months” but of course they sit in your lap and cuddle with you and grow on you. So …now I’m an little attached . There I said it. I want He to be a She. And ya know…to be honest… I was about 99% sure I had a little rooster and I had to start ignoring my little butterball but now that it’s week 9, I can’t truly tell. Either he’s slow growing from being a runt, or he is a she. All the chicks are turning pink, so he(?) isn’t more pink than others (Marans, astralorp, white rocks, etc). Also, the comb and waddles aren’t growing as fast as I would have thought for a roo. This is my first buff Orpington, so I’m very surprised at how small and slow growing they are. I would have expected a giant chick compared to the others?

Anyways, he is 9 weeks. Do you agree it’s a HE?

 

[cavemanrich]

I never had Buff Orpingtons, but my observation of the feathers,,,,, (rounded ends, instead of sickle) does not point to cockerel. Also your observation of the redness of comb, and wattles matches that of your pullets. Unless you have ALL COCKERELS.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[ChickenLoverTrin]

I'm not to sure but... CUTE!!! Not gonna lie I came here for the photos!

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

Cockerel
Huge legs and comb for that age.

 

[JedJackson]

I agree with Schwartz, that is a cockerel. It's all in the comb and wattles at that age, and they are large.

 

[Backyardgardening]

Here are some reference photos to the rest. The white one is the dominant cockerel right now, I named him Salt.

Butterball remains a male until we see a squat!