Buff Orpington 3 week old chicks- both pullets or one of each?

[Shezadandy]

2 Buff Orp chicks, given the different features I'm wondering if we got one of each instead of the 2 pullets we ordered. Both are friendly but "Chick 2" with the lighter tail is the bonafide cuddler.

All Day 21 (3 weeks)

Chick 1



Chick 1 (again)


Chick 2


Together: Chick 1 (left), Chick 2 (right)


Together: Chick 1 (bottom), Chick 2 (top)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMHO, 3 weeks is way too early to tell with orps.

 

[BantamLover21]

They're too young to sex accurately, but I don' see any obvious cockerel traits yet.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

They're too young to sex accurately, but I don' see any obvious cockerel traits yet.

agreed

 

[Michael OShay]

IMHO, 3 weeks is way too early to tell with orps.

They're too young to sex accurately, but I don' see any obvious cockerel traits yet.

X2 on both of the above posts. I would suggest re-posting their pics again in about a month. By then their gender should be more obvious.

 

[Shezadandy]

Hooray! I can continue to hold out hope. Will post new pictures after a while.

 

[drumstick diva]

way to young

 

[Shezadandy]

I realize we're still probably too early to tell but I'll put up these day 28 and 29 pictures for comparison points- might at some point be useful to someone else.

Neither has an obvious boy comb- faces are basically identical. The main difference is in the feathers.

Day 28- Chick 1, upper, Chick 2 lower



Day 29- Main difference is the back feathers and tail. Chick 1, top, has stiffer darker feathers. Chick 2 has lighter, fluffier/softer feather duster type back/tail feathers.

 

[Shezadandy]

Here are the face shots at Day 41. The body/tail feather differences remain the same as previous pictures, just longer. Chick #2 (tv watching lap warmer) continues to have light, very soft tail feathers. Their faces are difficult to tell apart at this stage which I take as a good sign.

Day 41, Chick #1



Day 41, Chick #2

 

[Michael OShay]

At that age, comb and wattle development is a much better indicator of sex in Orpingtons than feather development. Looking at their pics, I don't see anything screaming cockerel at this point so I'm thinking pullet on both of them. )