Black Australorps 9 weeks old

[MarlaMac]

Our four babies will be 9 weeks old tomorrow. My husband takes morning duty and he is sure that he hears baby crowing in the coop before he opens it up. All our babies are the same size, legs are all the same size. One has more pronounced wattles and comb than the other three. But, I don't see any male specific feathering on it. The shape of the chicken is the same as the others. When we had a cockerel his shape was completely different at 9 weeks that what I am seeing with these. What do you all think? I still think I have 4 girls, but I welcome any other opinion by more seasoned chicken-istas. If it is a boy, we will have to rehome (we have 8 hens, 1 rooster and these 4 juveniles. Want to start the process sooner than later. Sorry, pics are as good as I get with my phone. If necessary, I can get pics holding the chicken tomorrow.

I know that @3KillerBs will have an opinion!

Thank you.

 

[nuthatched]

Male feathers won't come on for another month. It's a cockerel.

 

[3KillerBs]

Those bright red comb and wattles are male.

You should be able to see the male saddles coming in within the next month.

 

[ChickenHeartedHen]

The most intriguing cockerel I’ve seen this week!

 

[MarlaMac]

Those bright red comb and wattles are male.

You should be able to see the male saddles coming in within the next month.

So question. What is the possibility of raising another cockerel in a flock of 16 hens? I know it all has to do with his countenance and if he will be submissive to Rooster Cogburn. I currently have 8 hens, these four babies, of which at least 3 are pullets. That gives me 11 hens, 1 rooster and this cockerel. I plan on getting 4, now 5 more blue pullets soon - which means I need to get actual pullets, not fertilized eggs. Is there a chance they can live together in harmony? Is he the reason broody momma is still keeping these babies to herself, almost like a whole new flock? Should I just plan on trying to rehome him? I know that the sooner I do this the better odds of him getting a new home where he can fit in.

Funny thing is he doesn't stand like a rooster. Nothing but the comb and wattles scream rooster to me. I would have thought he would be bigger than the girls at his stage. ??? I am so confused.

 

[3KillerBs]

When did that big comb show up?

I'll admit that while I haven't been fooled by a cockerel masquerading as a pullet, I have been fooled twice by fast-maturing pullets that I took for cockerels -- thought that bright red at this age is very masculine.

There's no telling how well the two gentlemen would get along. My Rameses is very laid back about other males but that's no guarantee about Australorps in general.

If you're wanting a second male you could try it and see if it's working out.

 

[MarlaMac]

When did that big comb show up?

I'll admit that while I haven't been fooled by a cockerel masquerading as a pullet, I have been fooled twice by fast-maturing pullets that I took for cockerels -- thought that bright red at this age is very masculine.

There's no telling how well the two gentlemen would get along. My Rameses is very laid back about other males but that's no guarantee about Australorps in general.

If you're wanting a second male you could try it and see if it's working out.

This is the chicken at 6 weeks. Yeah, not really wanting another male, especially if it is going to produce conflict within the flock. Rooster Cogburn hasn't shown any aggression toward him/her yet. I guess I will just wait and see. I have some feelers out to rehome if necessary. We shall see.

 

[MarlaMac]

This is the chicken at 6 weeks. Yeah, not really wanting another male, especially if it is going to produce conflict within the flock. Rooster Cogburn hasn't shown any aggression toward him/her yet. I guess I will just wait and see. I have some feelers out to rehome if necessary. We shall see.

Here is is dad at 9 weeks. The picture with the "M" on it is the cockerel from our last batch at 9 weeks.

The current chicken in question does not share any of the physical characteristics of these two guys - stocky/upright stance. Also, looking through pictures, Cogburn was much bigger than the two pullets we got with him at the same age. He was almost as big as our 20 week old pullets at the time.

I guess it all doesn't matter and time will tell. Thanks!

 

[maceleneo]

Hi, any update? I'm trying to sex my Australorp chicks and I'm curious!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Single comb birds are very reliable to sex by comb color. If red appears in comb then it's a cockerel. Pullets will not redden up until the point of lay.

Note the 6 week of age photo above, red comb. At 9 weeks a pronounced comb and very red. There is no doubt.