9 week old Cuckoo Marans and Ameraucana - gender?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I think you're right. Both these birds are starting to show reddish shoulder patches that they didn't have when they were younger, especially the red and white one--and the red and white one has developed a definite rooster comb.

 

[CowGrrrl]

Hi, all of the sudden -- in the last day or two -- these two lighter ones look very roo-ish! They are about 12 weeks old now. Based on combs I always leaned towards pullet, but now the tail feathers and body shape/stance are throwing me off. Thoughts?
(There is a third chicken in there that is light brown with black tail feathers and yellow legs. I know she is a pullet but I wanted to mention it because her tail shows up in four of the photos.)
Thanks!!


Pullet

Pullet

Pullet

Pullet in front, cockerel in back

Cockerel

Cockerel

Cockerel

Cockerel

Red & White one- Cockerel

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

the first one is a pullet the second (red and white one) is a cockerel

 

[kprae]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Since I'm new to this I was just wondering, how can you tell? Is it the comb? The tail feathers look pretty similar to me except maybe the red+white one has pointier feathers... Or is it something else? Thanks so much!

 

[CowGrrrl]

It's the coloration. Roosters have more splotchy coloration than females.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Since I'm new to this I was just wondering, how can you tell? Is it the comb? The tail feathers look pretty similar to me except maybe the red+white one has pointier feathers... Or is it something else? Thanks so much!

The pointier feathers are also a dead give-away that the bird is a male. But on that red and white one, the splotchy coloration and large comb are also present.

 

[CowGrrrl]

@WalkingOnSunshine - Roosters can also sometimes have the rounded feathers of females so it is not always a dead giveaway.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

@WalkingOnSunshine - Roosters can also sometimes have the rounded feathers of females so it is not always a dead giveaway.

True. But while there are hen feathered roosters, there are no roo-feathered hens, so if the OP sees those long pointy feathers, it's a rooster. I stand by the statement that if a bird shows long, pointy feathers, it's a dead give-away that it's a rooster. I never said it was the ONLY way to tell a rooster.

 

[CowGrrrl]

True. But while there are hen feathered roosters, there are no roo-feathered hens, so if the OP sees those long pointy feathers, it's a rooster. I stand by the statement that if a bird shows long, pointy feathers, it's a dead give-away that it's a rooster. I never said it was the ONLY way to tell a rooster.

I've seen some roo-feathered hens, but not a lot so your statement is true on most accounts but not all. Yeah, did I say you said it was the only way to tell a rooster? No.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I've seen some roo-feathered hens, but not a lot so your statement is true on most accounts but not all. Yeah, did I say you said it was the only way to tell a rooster? No.

Sigh. But the OP specifically said one of the birds had long, pointy feathers. Hence my original statement. I am still not sure why you felt the need to call me out on a case that wasn't present with the OP's birds. And in the interest of not creating drama on BYC, I'm done here.