Another test for chicken experts: Pullet or Cockerel? (new8.5 wk pics)

[nelli21]

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thanks for the good wishes, T-Spit. I hope it's a pullet too! And I hope you stick around and keep posting. I appreciate your input.

Dretd- I agree with your sentiments. And thank you for noticing the eye! I do love its eyes. Whatever it is, it's a pretty bird.

To everyone- I will post pictures this weekend if I have time (we might be doing hay this weekend). If not, by Thursday for sure as that will make the chick 9 weeks old and we can compare the pictures from 7.5 weeks and 9 weeks and maybe get some more clues.

Cheers!
Nelli

 

[Dustin Biery]

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I think the majority of it stemmed from this post. Anyone that has 24 years of experience with poultry should know that it absolutely possible to tell the sex of certain birds before they crow or lay. There are several people on this forum that know poultry far better than I probably ever will, but I still know that this is possible.


ETA: It is important for the people who are new to chickens that come to this forum to understand poultry. Many of us here try to help and teach others, but with statements like I have quoted here, and the OP posting that I was being a jerk, doesn't help anyone. It is absolutely necessary that the new people get good information to learn with so that their new hobbies can be safe, healthy, and what you think they are. If I have offended anyone, I do apologize, but this is learning, not just about opinions.

 

[nelli21]

Please, let's all keep a friendly tone. No one needs to prove anything- I enjoy discussions but I do not enjoy people that need to prove that they are "right" or that they "know more."

Can't we all just get along? It's a chicken message board! Don't we all just get a lot of joy from our chickens? Go hug a chicken!

Nelli

 

[chickenmeadow]

nelli21, that's the ticket! I will go home & hug my chickens, problem is that my oldest girls hatched this year seem to be getting "too old for that stuff" & only hug on their terms. Must be the half Ameraucana in them. Ha! May your pullets never crow...

Oh, Oh feeling poetic...

May your pullets never crow
May your roos never lay
That way they will always
Be able to stay!

(I must appologize for this now)

 

[CallyB57]

I think it's a roo, because at 7.5 weeks, none was that developed in comb & wattles, not even the rooster. However, LBrahma rooster developed the red a couple of weeks before the LBrahma hens even started to 'pink up'. So, with that much development at 7.5 weeks, I definitely think it is a roo. My LBrahma roo is just like a huge baby with fuzzy slippers on. I can pick him up and cuddle with him any time and he has never once shown any aggression to me - he is the most wonderful roo in the whole world.

 

[nelli21]

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Is that picture of you with your LB roo? He is sweeeet!!! I hope that my little guy will get more friendly. Right now he will go into a tizzy when I try to catch him. Once I do, he is just fine and relaxes though.

He is a roo. No crowing, but he has little bumps where spurs will be growing. And his comb looks a little bigger. And his tail feathers are starting to look roo-ish too. No saddle or hackle feathers yet, though.

It's been so much fun discussing it and learning from the posters. I am planning to keep him as long as my husband will let me.

I will still be posting pictures for comparison.
Nelli

 

[Dustin Biery]

Nelli, most all chicks will have spur buds.

 

[nelli21]

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Interesting... I checked my hens for comparison's sake and I didn't feel any bumps on their legs; they felt smooth. Maybe I will check again.

Nelli

 

[pixie74943]

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My White Leghorn Hen and My ISA Brown (sex linked) hen both had spur buds at 10 - 12 weeks.

Ironically enough, they're the friendly ones

 

[nelli21]

Here are promised pictures, the chick one week older:

And this is the 7.5 week old picture for comparison's sake:

I am slowly emerging from my strong denial of having hatched a rooster! Even I can see it now. It makes me sad.... not sure how this is going to work out.

Also, his mommy is going back in the big henhouse at night but he is scared of (and picked on by) the other hens so he has been sleeping in the chicken tractor he grew up in all by himself.

Poor little baby. And he is sooooo scared of people! He is fine once I catch him, but catching him is so traumatic.

Nelli