Australorps & RIRs

[mattd1089]

First time caller, long time listener here! My wife and I finally dove in to the "egg business" after talking about it for years. I've been reading lots of articles on sexing our three Australorps & three RIRs and I am just still not sure. I realize we can't be 100% certain, but I figure someone on here will recognize some features that I don't see or understand. I have myself convinced that these are males - your thoughts? I can take some more pictures if needed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The top picture I can only see clearly the top chicks which looks to be a rooster, once again on the bottom photo the top chick looks rooster. Better photos of them would help. Any of them that have pink combs at that age will be males, females will have an orange yellow comb for a few months.

 

[mattd1089]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It does look like two roosters and a hen.

 

[mattd1089]

Two of the Australorps have long pointed tail feathers and one has short/stumpy tail feathers. I wonder which is more accurate, the tail feathers or the comb?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always refer to the combs than refer to secondary signs like slow feathering, erect stance, boldness, and being more vocal, I would wait a couple more weeks to be certain.

 

[galvinj]

It does look like two roosters and a hen.

X2

 

[Birdrain92]

At this age I mainly look at wing feathers. Once they get older I use other feathers such as: Neck/Hackle, Tail covert/Saddle feathers and Sickle feathers, and back feathers.

 

[mattd1089]

Updated pictures. What do you all think now? I think 2/3 Australorps are roosters...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I see two roosters and one hen of each breed, so two hens and four roosters.