Are any of these Hens?

[Leasmom1013]

I can probably get face forward pictures in the morning but it was a struggle to get these. These docile breed BA's absolutely aren't and I had to wrap each one in a towel because they aren't very comfortable or friendly, which also makes me think they're boys. I also heard a crow earlier. It wasn't a complete crow but it wasn't a cackle. Let me know if you need more. I move them from inside to their original brooder to go outside. As soon as I cover the run, they will be moved permanently outside unless they are all roosters. Also, it's redder in person for all of them. I used flash to take the pictures so it may not appear as red but they all have reddish combs, some have darker orange combs but it just doesn't look like it with flash. You can see what their combs look like in the past photos.

Here's one I took of them outside in natural light. It's only 8 chicks. I sold 6 others and lost one.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

#8 has a tiny pink comb and wattles, so that one is surely a pullet. #1, #2 and #7 also have tiny pink combs that look like pullets, even though their wattles are redder than I would expect to see. The next time you see/hear another one(s) crow, you can put a small colored zip tie on its leg to identify it. Make sure it's plenty loose so as not to hinder circulation. Alternatively, you can mark the crower with food dye. I would be shocked if you don't have at least 4 pullets, especially since you ordered pullets only.

FYI in the past I've "stressed and obsessed" that I received multiple males in my own pullet order, so I know how you feel. In my case they all ended up being females even though some had bigger combs than others at ages 6-8 weeks. I've ordered direct from Hoover and know that they offer free shipping, but depending on your final female/male ratio they may offer a partial refund. In another 2 weeks or so you will have a much better idea as to what you have.

OK just saw the natural light photos. At 7 1/2 weeks, all except for Maybe one look like pullet combs and wattles to me! Is one of the six currently crowing?

 

[Leasmom1013]

#8 has a tiny pink comb and wattles, so that one is surely a pullet. #1, #2 and #7 also have tiny pink combs that look like pullets, even though their wattles are redder than I would expect to see. The next time you see/hear another one(s) crow, you can put a small colored zip tie on its leg to identify it. Make sure it's plenty loose so as not to hinder circulation. Alternatively, you can mark the crower with food dye. I would be shocked if you don't have at least 4 pullets, especially since you ordered pullets only.

FYI in the past I've "stressed and obsessed" that I received multiple males in my own pullet order, so I know how you feel. In my case they all ended up being females even though some had bigger combs than others at ages 6-8 weeks. I've ordered direct from Hoover and know that they offer free shipping, but depending on your final female/male ratio they may offer a partial refund. In another 2 weeks or so you will have a much better idea as to what you have.

OK just saw the natural light photos. At 7 1/2 weeks, all except for Maybe one look like pullet combs and wattles to me! Is one of the six currently crowing?

I'm not sure which one is crowing. I know that one of the hen-looking ones has been making crow movements with its mouth but making no sound. And because they look so much a like, I don't know which is which just yet except for the two with the orangish combs. They're the only ones I can identify. There's at least three that could be considered Triplets, they look so much a like. I've sat and watched them for a long time but the crowing sound I heard was when I wasn't nearby and wasn't able to determine which one it was. I was in the same room with them, just not able to see which one did it.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

And because they look so much a like, I don't know which is which just yet except for the two with the orangish combs. They're the only ones I can identify.

You might go ahead and color-mark them to distinguish who's who. Sometimes the only way to identify young puppies of black breeds is to mark them too. Color-marking them will help you know their individual personalities better no matter their genders. Don't give up yet on them being girls!

 

[Leasmom1013]

You might go ahead and color-mark them to distinguish who's who. Sometimes the only way to identify young puppies of black breeds is to mark them too. Color-marking them will help you know their individual personalities better no matter their genders. Don't give up yet on them being girls!

Thank you. I've never heard of color marking them before. And thank you, I won't.

 

[3KillerBs]

Those combs are much smaller than I'd expect from male Australorps at that age, as you saw from my photos, but I don't have any way of knowing if mine are unusually fast-maturing or not..

I use colored zipties for identifying mine: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

I know it's hard to juggle a struggling chick in one hand and a camera in the other, so I always enlist help to take the photos.

 

[Leasmom1013]

Okay, Thanks everyone. I'll update in 2 weeks. They'll be in the coop in a few days. But I'll update the best I can in two weeks or unless I can figure out whose trying to crow and capture it. I'll also try to get the chicken leg bands to identify them. Thanks again.

 

[NatJ]

I'll also try to get the chicken leg bands to identify them.

Zip ties work too. Leave it a little loose, then cut off the remaining end so it cannot get accidentally tightened any further.

Edit: oops, I see that two previous posters said pretty much the same thing. I think we have a consensus that zipties make good legbands!

 

[Leasmom1013]

Thanks. I do have zip ties.

 

[3KillerBs]

Zip ties work too. Leave it a little loose, then cut off the remaining end so it cannot get accidentally tightened any further.

Edit: oops, I see that two previous posters said pretty much the same thing. I think we have a consensus that zipties make good legbands!

Especially because they come in a lot of different colors.