Complete Newbie Wants to Know: Any Roos Here?

[Pony Trotsky]

Okay.

I think I've been reading too many BYC gender threads, because I'm now seeing roo-ish characteristics in all three of my new chickens - all bought as pullets. One is kinda big, one is kinda grouchy, one hasn't got the right sort of feathers . . . anyway, I thought I'd better ask the experts before I go totally bananas!

These are 11/12 week hatchery SLWs, who arrived a week ago with a bunch of feathers missing. (I treated for mites, added DE to the coop sand, and am feeding extra protein and BOSS to help feathers regrow. They're coming in like gangbusters!) All combs are shades of pinky/salmon, and wattles are all weeny and the color of a plastic Barbie doll.

 

[This_chicks_place]

Looks like all girlies to me! My SLW showed his true colors at about 6 weeks. No doubt he was a boy!

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

I'm pretty sure they are all girls what breed are they???

 

[lebentier]

looks like three pullets.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Yep, the comb would be redder if they were roos. My GLW is a little grumpy and bossy sometimes, but she lays nice eggs anyhow.

 

[fshinggrl]

Looks like 3 girls to me!

 

[featherz]

Girls!!!

 

[Pony Trotsky]

Oh, YAY! I am lovin' you guys!

Now, about feathers: in the photo of the three girls together, you'll notice that there's one - the one in front - that has no lacing to speak of, and rather babyish feathers all over; she's also got a silly little poof ball of a tail. The other two are getting new feathers with crisp white ovals on them, but this poor little thing just has little bristly porcupine quills so far, so I'm a bit confused.

Will this situation improve, or is this just the Hatchery SLW Syndrome that people talk about?

 

[Pele]

Looks like 3 Silver Laced Wyandotte pullets to me!

 

[Rin]

looks all pullets to me, one of them seems to already be starting on a "broody glare" even.