Buff orpington hen or roo?

[california-raising]

Hi all - I have 3 buff orpington chicks about 6 weeks old now. One of them has developed a comb and wattle, but the other two have not. Since they are the same age and from the same batch (I've had them since they were 2 days old), wondering if this is a good indicator that the single guy is indeed a guy... any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SonoranChick]

Yes, that's a cute little roo!

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Definitely a boy. No girl ever grows a comb and waddles that fast and that red.

I had a naked neck cockerel (which is now gotten rid of but in a home where he is not killed or harmed with his adopted sister!) and he was a month younger than my all-girl batch of 6, and he had a redder, bigger comb and wattles than them about 3-4 weeks before the pullets' even STARTED getting red. I confirmed it was a boy once he started mating with all of the girls every day!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Same age and batch doesn't mean much coming from hatchery, there are so many genetic possibilities.

But, I agree... that there is a cute little cockerel.

I mean no denying that one!

I actually like boys that show their gender early and select for it in my breeding stock.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I actually like boys that show their gender early and select for it in my breeding stock.

I can see how that's helpful since they won't get too attached before you get rid of them!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They just go to freezer camp here.

But when others are getting female birds from me, it can put a hamper in the plans to get late bloomers. And Orp's are often late bloomers.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Surprising pic.
I too like the ones that you can usually tell earlier on. Leghorns have me spoiled. You can usually tell by 3 or 4 weeks easily.
Now hatchery type buff orps I've always hated. For me they've always been late bloomers really late.
Usually for me it was hackle feathers that would finally convince me.
Saw the title and was thinking hopefully these aren't young chickens. Once I got to 6 weeks I was thinking oh boy no way I'm gonna see a difference.
Then I got to the pic and was like d*mn now that's a cockerel.
That's crazy early development for an orp.
I would also say one of the others may end up being boys but the difference in that and the other two makes me wonder if maybe it would be pretty safe to say they're pullets.
That's a special guy you got the.

 

[SonoranChick]

I agree with you @The Moonshiner it is very early development. Maybe you have a little superman on your hands!

 

[california-raising]

haha well thank you everyone for the quick knowledge. now i need to figure out what to do with a super roo (can only keep hens). thank you!

 

[Pigpie]

It's a handsome..... Rooster; congrats!