Can a 2 week old chick have wattles?

[Cerise1924]

I have eight chicks that are two weeks old, and one of them has developed what looks like pink-red wattles, and also has a reddening comb. This is a little Sebright.

I've never had a chick develop distinct wattles so early, so I was worried that this might be some kind of problem or swelling.

Could it just be early wattles?

Thanks for any info you can give.

 

[sourland]

All chicks have wattles and combs. It's all about when they start developing and enlarging. Sebright cockerels tend to redden and develop quite early. Your bird MAY be a cockerel.

 

[azygous]

Cockerels start getting wattles early. Their combs also begin developing around two weeks. By three weeks, the comb is noticeably different in color from the pullets pale head gear that may not even show yet.

I see my boy chicks with yellow combs early on, and by the time they're six weeks old, the comb and wattles are sizable and red in color. Pullets simply do not develop as quickly.

 

[1muttsfan]

I agree with Sourland. You'll know for sure soon.

 

[Cerise1924]

All chicks have wattles and combs. It's all about when they start developing and enlarging. Sebright cockerels tend to redden and develop quite early. Your bird MAY be a cockerel.

Thanks, this is very helpful. I have only raised a Sebright pullet before, and I never saw anything like these bright wattles on her. I was quite startled, because this is the smallest of the three Sebright chicks in the brooder, and in my head I had already decided it was a pullet, haha. It might just be a little dude.

Again, thanks for the reassurance.

 

[Cerise1924]

Here's a pic, FYI. My Silver Sebrights are just 14 days old today, and this is what's going on. I wouldn't have expected all that red on the face of a 2 week old chick, so I was a little startled.

 

[azygous]

Looks like a little junior roo!