Buff Orpington - What gender is this?

[andreanar]

That's a cockerel. And younger than 6 mths.

 

[keesmom]

Cockerel.

 

[debid]

Younger than you were told is certainly a possibility. I don't see a leg band or a wing tag so I'm doubtful the seller referenced written records or was 100% sure when he hatched. So, their best guess might not be correct.

 

[meetthebubus]

I think different strains could mature a different rates. I had Buff Orpingtins for ~5 years in the 80's and those were difficult for me to tell until about 6 months old, they did not put on weight until well after the hens started laying, and they were the least annoying of the breeds I had back then. I believe that some breeders select for early maturity and have been successful in some lines.

Interesting thought

 

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I have BO hens. Looked like mine until I saw the whole profile. That tail looks like rooster to me.

 

[MLeon]

This thread has been a great help! I have 10 chickens, 8 wks old, 5 have nice bright red combs, and 2 of those have been consistently crowing for over a week. I know they’re still young, but will check for saddle feathers and spur knobs today, as we cannot keep the roosters. Picture in the middle is one of the crowers, mastering 3 notes every time! Top pic is another suspected cockerel, and last picture is what our 5 “suspected” pullets look like.

 

[debid]

This thread has been a great help! I have 10 chickens, 8 wks old, 5 have nice bright red combs, and 2 of those have been consistently crowing for over a week. I know they’re still young, but will check for saddle feathers and spur knobs today, as we cannot keep the roosters. Picture in the middle is one of the crowers, mastering 3 notes every time! Top pic is another suspected cockerel, and last picture is what our 5 “suspected” pullets look like.

At 8 weeks, you may not find the rooster feathers yet and spurs will be nubs on both sexes. But, having a group of them certainly makes it easier to pick out the males by comb change.