Bantam thread(including polish and silkies)

[Farmgirl283420]

Congratulations everyone!

 

[Ladybird CA]

Thank you and congratulations!

 

[yukonsoul]

I’m so bad at navigating here but can anyone tell me if there are distinctions between telling a Gold Laced Cochin bantam pullet from cockerel?

 

[Ladybird CA]

Not that I know of except the cockerels seem darker usually due to slightly less lacing

 

[NatJ]

I’m so bad at navigating here but can anyone tell me if there are distinctions between telling a Gold Laced Cochin bantam pullet from cockerel?

As they grow, you can use the same methods that work on most other chickens:

The combs & wattles of males get bigger and redder, much sooner than the combs & wattles of the pullets (males between about 1 month and 3 months, pullets between about 4 months and 6 months.)

Sometime after about 3 months, the males grow long skinny saddle feathers with pointy ends, that sprout from their back and eventually hang down on each side near the tail. Adult hens, and younger chicks of both sexes, have feathers with rounded ends in that area, and the feathers look normal in length and width rather than being extra-long and skinny. The male saddle feathers are often shinier than other feathers, although that is not always the case.