At what Age to tell gender in BOs & Brs ? also comb size OR color??

[arlee453]

My latest babies (the ones we all watched together) are now 4 wks old.

I'm trying really hard to figure out roos vs girls, but am not 100% sure except for a couple of them so far.

So, here's my questions....

I have 7 BOs. 3 of them have VERY huge combs compared to the others. 2 of them have virtually NO comb at all yet. the other 2 are somewhere in the middle. Which is more important to consider? Comb SIZE or COLOR?

On the BRs I'm looking at leg color, feather color and comb size. I'm still waiting for them to shout 'roo' at me, but I'm not really seeing it yet. There are a few I'm sure are girls based on their very dark legs and darker coloration, but the rest are a toss up. At what point can I make a positive ID?

I am looking foward to figuring out which ones I'm able to keep, which are going to my friend and which (roos) I am going to have to find other homes for...

If I can get my self organized, I'll post some pics, but am I missing something here or is it still just too early to tell?

 

[luvzmybabz]

With my BOs the first telling sign was the feathering the roo feathered slower then the comb. I had a couple that were iffy roos but not huge combs like ROO POO and now they are definately all girls except for Roo Poo I would say the 3 huge combs are boys and the rest girls, I have a few girls at 10 .5 weeks that still have a variety of combs some almost none and 1 or 2 with a little then 2 that are larger but definately not roosters roo poo combs is Huge comparatively and turning pinkish. What do the unknowns tails look like faethers vs slow feathering? I think this was about the time I was able to pick out my roo and I banded him to watch and its him for sure.

 

[hinkjc]

It may not be too early to tell..post some pics and we'll try to help you out. I know for my buff orps feathering has nothing to do with it because I do not breed for feather sexing, which is typically what hatcheries do. The huge combs are definitely boys. The middle sized combs, I would look for any pinking up on the comb. Generally boys will start getting pink by 5 weeks, while girls combs stay really pale. That is the best time to say when the boys got to go. However, I have also had some slow maturing roosters develop later and all of a sudden. I'd say I can tell by 5 weeks about 95% of the time with certainty. And I found that the longer you wait sometimes, the more confused you get. LOL At least until the hackle and saddle feathers develop and then it's again..wahla ROO.

Jody

 

[CovenantCreek]

Can't help with the BOs.

Here's one of my BR roos at 3 weeks:

This is my sole BR pullet at 3 weeks: