Black Australorp & Silver-Laced Wyandottes - hens or roosters?

[fl-chicken-tender]

4 is a roo, and I believe 3 is as well. 1 and 2 may be pullets but I'm not fully sure about 2. Do you have a side photo of 3?

Sorry for the delay! Here's a
few more pictures.

 

[Silviaschicks]

I'm thinking 4 is your only roo then for now

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you, that's genius! I did that this afternoon.

Be sure to check the tightness every couple days with rapidly-growing chicks. It's horrible to miss one and discover a too-tight band digging into the leg.

 

[Painted Calls]

All Wyandottes are pullets. The Australorp looks like it could be a cockerel. Update on that one in a couple weeks.

 

[fl-chicken-tender]

All Wyandottes are pullets. The Australorp looks like it could be a cockerel. Update on that one in a couple weeks.

Updating at 12 weeks - I'm pretty sure you're right.

The SLWs look like pullets to me. I attached a picture of one of them, even with the leg bands I have trouble telling them apart.

Gomez the Black Australorp has started to get beautiful green tail feathers, and I can feel on his legs where spurs are starting to come in. He's not trying to crow yet, but give him time.

 

[3KillerBs]

That SLW is definitely female.

Gomez the Black Australorp has started to get beautiful green tail feathers, and I can feel on his legs where spurs are starting to come in.

Green sheen on black birds is a product of the feather's structure and is seen on both male and females.

Some females also have spurs (I had a Java with spurs almost as good as the rooster's).

What you are looking for is the male-specific pointed saddle feathers:

They can be hard to see on young black birds so put a hand or a piece of paper under them to get a good look at the true shape:

At 12 weeks I'd expect to be able to see them in an Australorp, but you might have to part the other feathers to see them coming in.

 

[Painted Calls]

That SLW is definitely female.



Green sheen on black birds is a product of the feather's structure and is seen on both male and females.

Some females also have spurs (I had a Java with spurs almost as good as the rooster's).

What you are looking for is the male-specific pointed saddle feathers:

View attachment 3384684

They can be hard to see on young black birds so put a hand or a piece of paper under them to get a good look at the true shape:

At 12 weeks I'd expect to be able to see them in an Australorp, but you might have to part the other feathers to see them coming in.

Agreed! That BA may need more time and pics. Those wattles are huge though.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Updating at 12 weeks - I'm pretty sure you're right.

The SLWs look like pullets to me. I attached a picture of one of them, even with the leg bands I have trouble telling them apart.

Gomez the Black Australorp has started to get beautiful green tail feathers, and I can feel on his legs where spurs are starting to come in. He's not trying to crow yet, but give him time.
View attachment 3384655View attachment 3384656

Australorp is 100% a cockerel. He has visible saddle feathers

 

[Painted Calls]

Australorp is 100% a cockerel. He has visible saddle feathers
View attachment 3384721

Golly I still can't see them. I'm assuming the white is shine on one of them?

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Golly I still can't see them. I'm assuming the white is shine on one of them?

Yep! The ones with the sheen are saddles! I traced them because it's hard to see in black birds