Bantam Araucana--Pullet or Roo? Color?

[LoupGarou]

I know that these pictures aren't the greatest and I know that the chick, at 2 weeks old, might be too young to tell sex--but hey, I need the practice taking and posting chicken pictures.

Can anyone give me any insight into what my plucky little bantam is color- and sex-wise? Thanks!


Full Body: see the contrast in colors on her (wishful thinking?) wings?

Head Shots: bare spot, but no comb development

Wings

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

gold duckwing? What colour were the parents?

 

[LoupGarou]

I have to take it on faith, since I got the eggs on eBay--and only one hatched! (my fault entirely, since I'm such a n00b) In any case, if I am to believe the seller, at least one of the parents looked like this:

I'm guessing that's what she'll look like, but I have no experience with bird colors. I don't see any hint of red on her head, either, although there isn't much feather development starting there. The flock is all rumpless, the rooster is clean-faced and some of the hens have tufts. That's about all I know.

 

[LoupGarou]

Anyone?

 

[LoupGarou]

I'd appreciate any help someone can offer, please. She seems to have the same chick color as black araucanas, but there is that funky red marking on her wings. I don't think she's going to have the red head of the black red birds--can anyone advise me?

I know, I just have a few more weeks to see how she's going to feather out and I'm not interested in breeding for show, but it might be nice to see what other people think.

 

[Mahonri]

Truly, it's too early to tell.

Stance would make me think roo, but I've been fooled before!

 

[LoupGarou]

Thanks, Mahroni! I suspected that it might be a bit early, but I was hoping that I was wrong. I am sending "her" positive hen vibes by thinking of her as a pullet--I'm not sure about her sex since based on stance she might could be a roo, but based on her lack of comb development I'm really hoping that she's not.

 

[klf73]

I agree, stance looks rooish....
I can usually tell most of my cockerals in my araucana, they are always the first to jump out of the brooder to see me when I feed/water them. It's not an exact science but so far I have been right on them all....the pullets, even my older ones are more shy

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Most araucana combs are pretty small compared to other breeds.

The colour of her parent doesn't look like a defined variety, at least not one I know. But by the same token, it doesn't look like an adult bird.

I think you're just gonna have to wait a few weeks

Sorry

 

[LoupGarou]

Thanks for your responses! I know I just have to wait, but I've never been the most patient person in the world.

I'm pretty sure that the parent was described in an email (which I can't find at the moment) as a blue or black red. That's the best I can do, unfortunately.

In terms of the comb being "small," how small is small? There is absolutely no sign that I can see of a comb in that naked spot on his/her head. How long is it before an araucana develops a comb, in general? I just ask because the buff orpington chicks I have have always had some sign of a comb.

It doesn't really matter, since unless this bird turns mean or super-loud, then it has a place with me for life. It was the first chick I ever had hatch and that gives it some measure of protection.