Are my hens actually drakes?!

[Elaine06]

So I ordered two female welsh harlequins this year......confirmed on invoice today that I hadn't accidentally ordered straight run. Ummmmm are both my hens actually drakes? They're 8 weeks and by this time my welsh hens from last year already had dark bills and darker feet and whiter heads...and these two both seem like they don't honk as much as my other two of the same cohort (the magpie and saxony). Aaaah! Can I get your opinions please?

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

They look like drakes, are their voices all raspy?

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Morning. I have no idea but I will say they are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Elaine06]

They look like drakes, are their voices all raspy?

They do sound a bit raspy, yes. Man I knew it! Their bills at day 1 didn't have the spot, and I knew that the hatchery didn't have female available for that day. So I was wondering why they shipped them so early. What the heck man. I didn't want any drakes......may have to reevaluate now

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

They do sound a bit raspy, yes. Man I knew it! Their bills at day 1 didn't have the spot, and I knew that the hatchery didn't have female available for that day. So I was wondering why they shipped them so early. What the heck man. I didn't want any drakes......may have to reevaluate now

Can you contact the hatchery and tell them what happened? They might refund or replace them

 

[Jlw0903]

Where did you order from? And have you confirmed they are drakes? This is my Welsh who is 5wks now and I'm terrified she's a drake because of how yellow her bill is and her colors are much darker than I thought they would be

 

[Elaine06]

Where did you order from? And have you confirmed they are drakes? This is my Welsh who is 5wks now and I'm terrified she's a drake because of how yellow her bill is and her colors are much darker than I thought they would beView attachment 3886633

I ordered from Metzers. Look at the feathers coming in on the tail, thats makes it easier to tell. The scalloped pattern half moon of the tail feathers is tell-tale. I'd be a little skeptical if I were you as well, normally their bills and feet darken a lot if female

 

[Elaine06]

Where did you order from? And have you confirmed they are drakes? This is my Welsh who is 5wks now and I'm terrified she's a drake because of how yellow her bill is and her colors are much darker than I thought they would beView attachment 3886633

Here's a picture of my WH drakes at 5 weeks. The green circle spot is the half moon/scallop tail pattern I'm referring too

 

[Elaine06]

Here's my females from last year at 5 weeks. You can see the difference in the male and female tale pattern clearly here. Edited to add, their bills were also very dark by this age

 

[Jlw0903]

I ordered from Metzers. Look at the feathers coming in on the tail, thats makes it easier to tell. The scalloped pattern half moon of the tail feathers is tell-tale. I'd be a little skeptical if I were you as well, normally their bills and feet darken a lot if female

Mine came from Metzer this year as well .. she started off dark... She did make a few honks when I harassed her (she's 5 weeks) but not sure if a drake at that age would do that too? This is only my second batch and it's been 5 years since I got the last group.