- Feb 29, 2012
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Hi, I'm not sure if it's too early to tell with some of these, but I'm curious. I'm a newbie, so I could use the help if possible. 
This first one is my Speckled Sussex, about four weeks old now. This is my only SS, so I have nothing else to compare her to. Should the comb be so large at this age? She is supposed to be a pullet, but I know that's not always 100% accurate and the last chick I had that had such a large comb at this age (a Welsummer) ended up being a roo. Also, she flares her tale a lot when she is picked up, is rather feisty and walks around with her neck stretched out a lot--could any of that be any clues?
Another shot of her (please excuse the mess on my desk)
These two are probably way too young to tell. They are only about two weeks old, but I'm curious since I had a hunch so early with my Welsummer due to his comb and one of these has quite the comb already and the behavior just seems rooster-ish. Oh, these two are Birchen Marans, by the way. They were both straight runs.
Here is one of just him/her. He/she displays this body language a LOT--not sure if that is any indicator or not.
One more really up close to his/her face.
I'm also wondering about this Ameraucana. It's only about 3 weeks old. It is supposed to be a pullet, but I have some doubts. I'm not sure if it's possible to tell this early with this breed or not. I have another one the same age, but she is a different color and is smaller and she has always been smaller. Again, this one's behavior makes me wonder, but also, again that darned comb. Should it be so large yet? My other Ameraucana's isn't. Also, this Ameraucana and my Speckled Sussex (above) like to dive bomb each other or if one is on a perch, the other will try to pull the one off. I don't know if they are just trying to assert themselves as higher in the pecking order or if they are roos that are bickering?
Here is a picture of her feathers coming in if it helps at all
Sorry, just one more. This is an older chicken, so maybe it'll help. I will try to get a newer picture tomorrow if I can because his/her waddles are more noticeable now. This is my Blue Polish. He/She came from a straight run. In these pictures he/she is about a little over 6 weeks old. Should be about a little over 7 now.
If it's any indicator, he/she has been rather feisty from very early on and would get upset when removed from the other chickens and fight to get back to them (I know my Welsummer roo acts upset and screams and hollers when he is separated from the pullets he has grown up with thus far and he is only 6 weeks now, but has acted that way for a couple of weeks). Also, while it looks like a few of his/her feathers have been plucked from the head recently, he/she was NEVER picked on as a chick by the older chicks and all our other chicks we'd bring home were (I had to step in and break them up, which always worked). He/She would also dive bomb the other chicks and push them out of his/her way. Does any of that help and/or mean anything?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions and pictures! Like I said, I'm not even sure if it's possible to tell yet, but thought you folks would be the best ones to ask if it is.
This first one is my Speckled Sussex, about four weeks old now. This is my only SS, so I have nothing else to compare her to. Should the comb be so large at this age? She is supposed to be a pullet, but I know that's not always 100% accurate and the last chick I had that had such a large comb at this age (a Welsummer) ended up being a roo. Also, she flares her tale a lot when she is picked up, is rather feisty and walks around with her neck stretched out a lot--could any of that be any clues?
Another shot of her (please excuse the mess on my desk)
These two are probably way too young to tell. They are only about two weeks old, but I'm curious since I had a hunch so early with my Welsummer due to his comb and one of these has quite the comb already and the behavior just seems rooster-ish. Oh, these two are Birchen Marans, by the way. They were both straight runs.
Here is one of just him/her. He/she displays this body language a LOT--not sure if that is any indicator or not.
One more really up close to his/her face.
I'm also wondering about this Ameraucana. It's only about 3 weeks old. It is supposed to be a pullet, but I have some doubts. I'm not sure if it's possible to tell this early with this breed or not. I have another one the same age, but she is a different color and is smaller and she has always been smaller. Again, this one's behavior makes me wonder, but also, again that darned comb. Should it be so large yet? My other Ameraucana's isn't. Also, this Ameraucana and my Speckled Sussex (above) like to dive bomb each other or if one is on a perch, the other will try to pull the one off. I don't know if they are just trying to assert themselves as higher in the pecking order or if they are roos that are bickering?
Here is a picture of her feathers coming in if it helps at all
Sorry, just one more. This is an older chicken, so maybe it'll help. I will try to get a newer picture tomorrow if I can because his/her waddles are more noticeable now. This is my Blue Polish. He/She came from a straight run. In these pictures he/she is about a little over 6 weeks old. Should be about a little over 7 now.
If it's any indicator, he/she has been rather feisty from very early on and would get upset when removed from the other chickens and fight to get back to them (I know my Welsummer roo acts upset and screams and hollers when he is separated from the pullets he has grown up with thus far and he is only 6 weeks now, but has acted that way for a couple of weeks). Also, while it looks like a few of his/her feathers have been plucked from the head recently, he/she was NEVER picked on as a chick by the older chicks and all our other chicks we'd bring home were (I had to step in and break them up, which always worked). He/She would also dive bomb the other chicks and push them out of his/her way. Does any of that help and/or mean anything?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions and pictures!
Like I said, I'm not even sure if it's possible to tell yet, but thought you folks would be the best ones to ask if it is. 
