Are these cocks?

[greenladyoakwitch]

Hi, I'm new to keeping chickens and an beginning to wonder about these two. These are about 21+ weeks. They're very big, combs and wattles smaller than my hens. No fighting, no spurs or crowing. I think they might be eating the eggs (or could be the hens.) All duck ( light sussex) does is sit on the ground like in th picture, like s/he is going to lay. The rock appears to have hackles, they also run away from the hens, not rooster like at all!

 

[JedJackson]

These two are pretty tough to figure out. At 21+ weeks I would expect to see plenty of male specific feathers, but there is none on the Sussex and not much if any at all on the barred rock. On the other hand, the rock has the type of barring associated with males, which is lighter with more even bars than the females. So if it is indeed a purebred barred rock, then I think it may well be a late blooming cockerel. However, the way the comb kind of curves and isn't completely straight or upright, reminds me more of a hen. A picture of this bird's tail and saddle area could help with determining which it is.

The Sussex just looks like a cockerel to me despite the lack of male sex feathering. It looks very large, and I think that is the main reason. Maybe it put all of its energy into growing and only later will get to the business of growing the pointed hack and saddle feathers, as well as the curved tail, that distinguish most boys as cockerels and roosters. Also, I've noticed the habit of sitting about like that more often in males of heavy breeds than females. Pictures of its legs could help because thickness of leg is one of the ways things we look at when sexing chickens.

It would be odd to have two late developing cockerels like that, but my guess is that is the case here. If nothing else, time will surely tell.

 

[greenladyoakwitch]

Thanks, not sure if fist pic is any good but the rock now has a short tail, the longer one either fell out of pulled out by a hen. Legs on both are thick, yellow on rock, pale in Sussex

 

[JedJackson]

I'm stumped. They look less like cockerels to me in the new pictures, but still kind of in between. But ypu've had no crowing and they have no male sex feathers, so that leans toward them being pullets. It may just be a case where you'll have to wait until an egg or cockadoodledoo comes. Hopefully others can help out with their views.

I'll bring it to the attention of some of the experts- @Gray Farms @drumstick diva @Brahma Chicken5000 @KikiLeigh02 @Frazzemrat1 @sourland @sylviethecochin

 

[Mylied]

I disagree. That looks like female barred rock coloring. Both looks like pullets close to lay.

 

[JedJackson]

I disagree. That looks like female barred rock coloring. Both looks like pullets close to lay.

Good news, then. Hopefully they will lay soon.

 

[greenladyoakwitch]

Thanks everyone, guess I just need to wait and hope they're pullets.