Cockerels or pullets?

[nbuuifx]

My last hatch only had two fertile eggs but they both hatched - they are now 5 weeks old and I'm wondering if anyone can tell if they are boys or girls?!

I'm not sure what breed they were, I was told they were leghorn eggs but they don't look anything like leghorns. They may just be a mix. There were French Marans wandering about at the farm which is the closest breed I can think of.

Anyway the darker chick was bigger and the comb area went a redder colour. It has also shown more cockerel like behaviour.

The lighter one was always smaller and the comb hasn't gone as red.

Both are extremely friendly but the lighter one panics if you take the darker one away. The darker one doesn't bother if they are separated.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Both are cockerels. Possibly Brahma mixes.

 

[laceynoelle]

I agree

 

[nbuuifx]

Oh no!

What makes you think they are both cockerels?

They seem to be quite different to me. There is the size difference, then the fact that the darker one has his wattle developing already. The comb area looks redder on the darker one too. The lighter one has a lighter comb, no wattle and is smaller.

What is there that defines them as cockerels at this point?

I was hatching these for my in-laws. I only got the two so have hatched another 7 so it isn't the end of the world if they are both boys but I'd hoped we'd get at least one girl from those 2.

Fingers crossed for some girls in the next 7. Is there any point posting pictures of them yet? They are now about 5 days old. The new ones come from a mix flock - some are ex battery hens, they've got a couple of cochins, a couple of marans, a lone bantam and probably some others - no idea what the cockerel is.

 

[FowlLove]

To me the white one looks like a hen, but it could be too early to tell. The black one does have a bit larger comb/wattles and saddle feathers so I would say that one is a rooster.

 

[nbuuifx]

To me the white one looks like a hen, but it could be too early to tell. The black one does have a bit larger comb/wattles and saddle feathers so I would say that one is a rooster.

They've looked quite different right through their development which is why I was surprised to see that they might both be cockerels. Fingers crossed that one is a hen as they're a nice looking bird.

 

[nbuuifx]

A couple of newer photos, what are your thoughts now?

 

[nbuuifx]

I'm still none the wiser! This is a picture of them at 16 weeks old - they are 19 weeks old and still not making any noises. They are still wonderfully gentle - 2 of the friendliest chickens we've had!

 

[chrissynemetz]

The white one is definitely a cockerel, can you get a couple more pictures of the black one?

 

[nbuuifx]

I'll see if I can find some more. Are they a particularly slow developing breed? At 5 months old I thought I'd see some comb development and start to hear them crowing?

The next hatch which was just over 3 weeks later had a few cockerels and they were easily identifiable and they have now started to crow. (The next hatch was a real mix of whatever was round the yard when I collected the eggs!)

What makes you sure the white one is a cockerel?