comb developement for assorted reds (3 weeks old)

[bethandjoeync]

i bought assorted red chicks and they are now 3 weeks old, and I was wondering what type of comb shape they might start to develope. I have one that we are 99% sure he's a roo, because he has a bigger, pinker comb than all the rest. I was just curious if there were any signs of possible roos or pullets that could be determined from comb formation. thanks for the help. I can take pics if needed

 

[jossanne]

Yes, bigger, pinker combs early on will almost always indicate males. Females usually stay yellowish pink longer, and don't grow as fast.

 

[bethandjoeync]

well I don't want to count my pullets before they grow up, but a lot of them are keeping the yellow smaller comb. I am going to try not to get too excited at the fact that I may only have 2 or 3 roos in my whole bunch. fingers crossed

and patiently (kind of) waiting further developement of the matter

 

[jossanne]

Do you have pics that you can post? If they're assorted reds, you've got a good chance of having red sex-links in there. That would mean all of those would be girls, since male red sex-links are white. But there could be Rhode Island reds and New Hampshire reds in there too. Some people on here (not me) are good enough to tell the difference between the chicks, and might be able to give you a better idea.

Three weeks old may be a little too early to guess gender based on combs, but not much. Some breeds are obvious by that age, but not all.

 

[bethandjoeync]

the two with the larger than all the rest combs look like this one

then here are the others that some have more white than brown, but mostly the brown in closer to the skin and the white is near the ends of the feathers. These pictures were taken maybe 5 days ago but they have even more feathers now on their heads and backs and tails and all over lol

 

[jossanne]

The first one looks like it could be a Rhode Island red. Their wings start out with patterned feathers. With that comb already, it could be a male, but don't uncross your fingers yet.

The ones with red and white, I'm guessing, are red sex-link females. The last one looks like it's feathering in all white. Is it? If so, probably red sex-link male.

But remember... I'm not an expert. I've owned a total of 5 RIR's, and sold them at about 16 weeks. I also had 8 red sex-link males that we got rid of at about 18 weeks. They started off pure white, growing faster than the rest, and then got dark red feathers in their wings and hackles. But I look at a LOT of pictures on here, and that's what I'm thinking.

Check out feathersite:
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Reds/BRKRIR.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/NH/BRKNH.html