Any experience with chick gender "surprises"?

[GallusGirl]

I haven't raised chickens since I was a child, and I got 4 Sebrights about 5 weeks ago now, 2 Golden and 2 Silver. They've always had their own little personalities, but now they are starting to reveal their genders. I can't keep roosters, but the sweetest chick, who has enjoyed cuddling more than all the others since the car ride home, is starting to look more and more like a rooster. This chick is the largest, has a slightly bigger crest (but still not significantly larger), and tends to actually perch on the inside of the little cardboard box that I have inside their brooder (full of a mix of sand and grit for them to scratch in) while the other chicks all snuggle together when they sleep at night. The spurs are a little bit larger than the spurs on the other chicks, but still just a tiny bump on the leg, nothing significant. I'm curious if the larger size of the chick, crest, and spurs definitely indicate that this is a rooster, or if the advanced size and development could just be a result of this chick being at the top of the pecking order and eating more than the others.

Has anyone been surprised by chicks that they thought were going to turn out roosters ACTUALLY being chunky hens?

Here's a little picture of the chick in question.


Thanks!
(And if anyone in Northern California wants a lovely little Golden Sebright rooster...let me know.

)

 

[mandelyn]

I can't tell for sure without a photo showing others too. If it's the first to develop waddles below the chin, it's a boy more than likely.

Is the base of the comb wider/longer than the others? Usually on rose comb breeds the boys will have a lot more "room" around the comb for growth. The comb changes color sooner on a male as well.

The feathers coming in won't help much, they're a hen feathered breed.

I love that breed though, one of my favorites.