This is a follow-up to another thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-i-tell-at-4-weeks-old.1646966/#post-28197394
Hatched 10/30/24. Photos in previous thread at 4 weeks old. We are now at 12 1/2 weeks and I'm still unsure. Realizing that in the next 4-6 weeks all will be revealed.
This chick was always bigger than the three others (2 easter Eggers/1 speckled sussex). He/She always at the front of the brooder, neck held high, thick legs/big feet. Now, those things have not really changed. He/She sleeps on the ground, while the others roost at night. Definitely has 'protective' qualities about her. I know that hens can do this too, so still wondering if she has just naturally been a 'protector'. Recently, we have been gently exposing him/her to our older hens and she does stand up to them. But, I am not seeing any real feather changes, except she is losing feathers right now more than the others and so maybe the roo feathers are coming soon. And, she still towers over the other girls
Still, thought I would post some updated pics and ask opinions.
It is hard to photograph him/her, aka, Raven. Her feather today seems 'hen' but her waddles are coming in quite pink and the comb/wattle appeared early at my original posting at 4 weeks. Really hoping for a she, as we cannot have a cockerel. So, for all the experts...any thoughts? Do you see any roo-ish signs I am missing? I've looked at photos of black australorp roosters and early on they seem to have rounded feathers like a hen. Seems even fully matured will have rounded tail/saddle feathers with blunt ends. So...??????
Hatched 10/30/24. Photos in previous thread at 4 weeks old. We are now at 12 1/2 weeks and I'm still unsure. Realizing that in the next 4-6 weeks all will be revealed.
This chick was always bigger than the three others (2 easter Eggers/1 speckled sussex). He/She always at the front of the brooder, neck held high, thick legs/big feet. Now, those things have not really changed. He/She sleeps on the ground, while the others roost at night. Definitely has 'protective' qualities about her. I know that hens can do this too, so still wondering if she has just naturally been a 'protector'. Recently, we have been gently exposing him/her to our older hens and she does stand up to them. But, I am not seeing any real feather changes, except she is losing feathers right now more than the others and so maybe the roo feathers are coming soon. And, she still towers over the other girls
Still, thought I would post some updated pics and ask opinions.
It is hard to photograph him/her, aka, Raven. Her feather today seems 'hen' but her waddles are coming in quite pink and the comb/wattle appeared early at my original posting at 4 weeks. Really hoping for a she, as we cannot have a cockerel. So, for all the experts...any thoughts? Do you see any roo-ish signs I am missing? I've looked at photos of black australorp roosters and early on they seem to have rounded feathers like a hen. Seems even fully matured will have rounded tail/saddle feathers with blunt ends. So...??????
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