At What Age is Gender Apparent?

[RileyB]

I have 8, nine week old birds and 3, 13 week old birds. I know it varies depending on breed, but at what age are all breeds mature enough to tell between cockerel and pullet? Of my three 13 week old BOs, it has been obvious for weeks that one is male and two are females. Of the nine week old chicks, it has been evident that one is a male since they were abut 4 weeks old, and I have also known for that long that I have 5 definite pullets. I am still up in the air about the gender of the other two. Those two are a barnyard mix that I believe may have some bantam in them, so I understand I may not be able to tell their gender for awhile.

In general, what is the absolutest longest I will have to wait to determine the sex of these two birds?

 

[cafarmgirl]

Well the absolute longest would be until bird in question either crows or lays an egg! So around 20 weeks or longer for an egg. Some roosters crow later then that, some crow early.

Generally no matter the breed, most young roo's will be noticeable by their combs/wattles/faces pinking up or getting red much earlier then the pullets. Pullets typically don't get red in the face/comb until they are reaching point of lay, roo's much earlier.

 

[Coopini]

We had an Ameraucauna who started crowing and growing a big tail at 3 months and a Black Silkie Rooster who started crowing and really looking the part at 4 months. We have a 4 month old Buff Silkie who I'm still wondering about. The Black Silkie Roo is free to a good home near Nashville, we live in the city and can't keep him.