Clarification Question - Round vs Straight Feathers

[MoutonNoir]

First time chicken mom - my seven hatched about 3.5 weeks ago, so I have lots of questions re: chicken lingo.

When people say that pullet feathers are more rounded and cockerel feathers are more straight, what exactly does that mean? Like the ends of the feather itself? How it fans out to the sides?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[All4Eggz]

From what I understand, it is about the tip or end of the feathers that are more rounded or pointed.

You can post pictures of your birds when they are 5-6 weeks old and we can help sex.

@LadiesAndJane @cherrynberry @Rhodebar Lover

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Both in a way. Pullets will have wider more oval feathers and cockerels will start to get the more narrow and pointed hackle, saddle and sickle feathers.

 

[Battlepants]

It's worth noting that the saddle feathers don't really show up until around 10-12 weeks. For sexing before that, I usually look at redness in comb and a presence of a wattle - this is usually done around 4-8 weeks, but some breeds are very much more difficult than others.

3.5 weeks is kinda pushing it on what we can find, but feel free to post up some pics. Worst case scenario we get to see a cute chick!

 

[cherrynberry]

Both in a way. Pullets will have wider more oval feathers and cockerels will start to get the more narrow and pointed hackle, saddle and sickle feathers.
View attachment 3113553

Here’s an example of that, but on younger birds, and with more pictures.

Spoiler: Picture HEAVY

Here’s a few cockerel examples

Here’s those cockerels, but younger (around 7-10 weeks)

Here’s the same cockerels at 5-6 weeks.

Here’s a picture of several pullets and males. The ones with red combs are all cockerels. They were 4-6 weeks old here.

Another group picture. The one in the middle is the boy. They were around 8-10 weeks here…

Here’s a cockerel that’s even younger (2-3 weeks)

He was just shy of 2 weeks when I knew he was a boy

Here’s a grown male (left) next to a grown female (right)

Here are the pullets (around 10 weeks old)

Male saddles (small thin feathers at the tail area)

Male hackles (sharp thin feathers at the neck area)

 

[MoutonNoir]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate how helpful everyone has been on this site. It’s refreshing!

I’m “lucky” (ha!) in a sense in that I know 3 of them are Roos (barred rock, so auto sexing) and 2 salmon faverolles (breed specific coloring).

The ones that I’ll be watching closely are the Olive Egger, the Easter Egger, the lakenvelder and the French black copper Marans (although my hopes have already been dashed on “him.”)

 

[MoutonNoir]

Both in a way. Pullets will have wider more oval feathers and cockerels will start to get the more narrow and pointed hackle, saddle and sickle feathers.
View attachment 3113553

Thank you - extremely helpful!!!

 

[MoutonNoir]

It's worth noting that the saddle feathers don't really show up until around 10-12 weeks. For sexing before that, I usually look at redness in comb and a presence of a wattle - this is usually done around 4-8 weeks, but some breeds are very much more difficult than others.

3.5 weeks is kinda pushing it on what we can find, but feel free to post up some pics. Worst case scenario we get to see a cute chick!

And let me tell you - they are super cute chicks!!! Although I may very well be biased. Lol

Thank you!

 

[MoutonNoir]

Here’s an example of that, but on younger birds, and with more pictures.

Spoiler: Picture HEAVY

Here’s a few cockerel examplesView attachment 3113711View attachment 3113713View attachment 3113716
Here’s those cockerels, but younger (around 7-10 weeks)View attachment 3113722View attachment 3113726
View attachment 3113721View attachment 3113720
Here’s the same cockerels at 5-6 weeks.View attachment 3113725
Here’s a picture of several pullets and males. The ones with red combs are all cockerels. They were 4-6 weeks old here.
View attachment 3113727
Another group picture. The one in the middle is the boy. They were around 8-10 weeks here…View attachment 3113717
Here’s a cockerel that’s even younger (2-3 weeks)View attachment 3113718View attachment 3113719
He was just shy of 2 weeks when I knew he was a boy View attachment 3113723
Here’s a grown male (left) next to a grown female (right)View attachment 3113724
Here are the pullets (around 10 weeks old)View attachment 3113712View attachment 3113714View attachment 3113715
Male saddles (small thin feathers at the tail area)View attachment 3113731View attachment 3113734View attachment 3113735
Male hackles (sharp thin feathers at the neck area)View attachment 3113733View attachment 3113732

Omg - super helpful!!! Thank you!!!

Beautiful flock btw!