Are these all cockerels?

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are they light Brahmas? That explains why they've been slower to mature, but they are definitely all male. Sounds like it's time for some management decisions....

Agreed. Sorry.

 

[kuhnse51]

Yes they are light brahmas, no signs of any attempts to crow yet though. Any experience with what age they start to mature? My previous roosters ranged from 3 weeks to about 10 weeks when they first started crowing. This is my first time with brahmas though.

 

[Old 76 Farm]

I have Brahmas & I do disagree that they are all cockerels. They go through more of an awkward stage at this age, I remember thinking I had several cockerels.. especially when the dark started to spread down their backs, but they ended up all being pullets. I would wait it out a little longer before making up your mind about them. They are late to mature & start crowing at 5-6 months.

Only B & E look like cockerels to me.

 

[kuhnse51]

Well that's good to hear! I'm really mostly hoping at least A is a pullet because "she" is my little puppy dog, but it would be nice if the others were too! I'm not getting my hopes up though

 

[kuhnse51]

Update: Is it normal for them to have such minimal comb/wattle development? Some of them have less development than I've seen on pictures of some pullets that are younger. They are 19 weeks now and still no attempts to crow

A.

Some minor development since 16 weeks and tail has gotten big and rooster-y

B.

Very little development or reddening

C.

Some reddening but little development

D.

Some development but still pale compared to others

E.

Biggest and reddest of them all, no question about this guy.


I don't know if any of this matters or if the feathers rule the decision lol but it seems weird to me that they have such little development at 19 weeks :/

 

[donrae]

You only show head shots on some of the birds in the update, but in the first posting, saddle feathers are clearly visible. Only male birds get saddle feathers. Slow to mature means they can be a year old before they reach maturity.

 

[krista74]

You only show head shots on some of the birds in the update, but in the first posting, saddle feathers are clearly visible. Only male birds get saddle feathers. Slow to mature means they can be a year old before they reach maturity.

x 2

When you look back to your original pictures, all of the birds have saddle feathers. Feathers trump comb and wattle development I'm afraid.

I am sure that given a bit more time you will see further development in their combs and wattles, and in due course you will hear their attempts at crowing. As @donrae said though, some cockerels are slower to mature than others, so you might not hear a crow for several more months yet.

Unfortunately in this case your bird's feathering are all indicative of male birds rather than females. Sorry, I vote for all cockerels.

- Krista

 

[kuhnse51]

Spoke too soon about the no crowing thing lol this morning about half of the boys that have never crowed before started this morning its pretty funny to listen to.