9-week sumatra - does it look like a pullet?

[sevenbabychicks]

Our black sumatra, Aceh, is just so gorgeous. But is she too gorgeous for a 9-week-old pullet? So much sheen and long, curved feathers, and she's bigger than her OE, EE, and SFH sisters. I know Sumatra hens can have roostery features, but I'm a little worried Aceh's are a little too roostery for a pullet so young...

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Feathering looks like a cockerel, but lack of comb and wattles looks like a pullet! Hmmmmm....I’m in a pickle about this one. Beautiful chicken! Either way, I hope you can keep it!

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

I would just wait and see, it is often hard to guess at this age.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Please wait a couple weeks. I'm leaning towards pullet though....

 

[Alexandra33]

My Sumatra didn't show THAT degree of comb so early....while I'm not positive at this point, I'm leaning towards cockerel.

~Alex

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Thanks, all! I'll keep waiting and will post some updated pics in a couple weeks. Alexandra, interesting about the comb on yours... Aceh's has been pretty broad for awhile :/

 

[Gray Farms]

You've got a cockerel there. The tail is the give away with young Sumatras. Cockerels will have slightly longer and uneven tail feathers. Where pullets will be shorter and all even.

Hatchery type birds may not always follow this. But in 15 years of breeding Black Sumatras mine always do.

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Update: Yup, Aceh is pretty much most definitely a cockerel. And such a beautiful one! Unfortunately, we can't keep roosters in the city, so we'll be looking to rehome him soon.

(If anyone reading this lives near Minneapolis MN and would like a super sweet Sumatra for their flock, let me know!)