Confirming Gender

[TXChickenFarmer01]

Good evening all! I'm curious, aside from having you fine folks give your (educated) opinions is there another way to have gender confirmed?

I ask because we live in an area that does not allow roosters and I know we have 2 and 2 others are possibilities. I don't want to wait for a crow to find out and have the neighbors flip out and run into HOA issues.

Thanks as always for any help you may be able to provide.

 

[imnukensc]

Pictures/breed/age info would help the folks here to help you.

 

[TXChickenFarmer01]

Pictures/breed/age info would help the folks here to help you.

I already did that and they confirmed the two we thought and were 50/50 on the two that we're unsure about. I'm assuming it will become more evident with time but don't want that time to intersect with them crowing and getting us in trouble. Here are the two that are suspect. They are both EEers and 9 weeks old.


and here's the other one...

 

[Mylied]

Not really that I know of, but I'd lean more towards those being cockerels at that age. Usually it's pretty clear before the crows and starter crows are like when a boys voice breaks. Not very loud and kinda ackward. So either way, you should be able to tell before they cause trouble.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree at 9 weeks, those are probably both boys, especially the black with gold hackles. I can say with almost certainty that is a rooster. The solid black is a little more ambiguous, but I think I see some saddle developing.

And, I agree that most telecast with saddle feathers or other signs before they actually crow...usually. And the crows are pretty sad at first....usually. They sound like strangled gargling. You should be able to be certain before they get loud and obnoxious.

However, if you have the misfortune of getting a boy that crows at 13 weeks loud and clear, have a quick plan of re-homing or at least homing in the garage until you can get him elsewhere.

You can get DNA testing done, but that would be pretty expensive for a chicken.

Sometimes you can see the "junk in the trunk" inside the vent, but its pretty hard as a male chicken doesn't really have an appendage. The bump, called the papilla, is a large bump at the bottom of the vent, on the inside. You can sometimes see it when the roo defecates if you are looking at the right time. In mature roosters you can actually "milk" the papilla to get sperm. (Uh, yup folks, that's how artificial insemination starts at the hatcheries, especially for turkeys...wouldn't you NOT love that job).

A close physical examination will sometimes provide clarity, but the bird is pretty unhappy about it which makes it hard to be certain....and most of us are not really interested in getting that up close and personal with a rooster, especially a young one who may be more difficult to inspect.

But it can be done...see the Chicken Chick's article below...and you too can know far more about rooster sex than you ever wanted to know.

LofMc

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-mating-how-does-that-work/

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Both boys.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Totally agree with @Lady of McCamley assessment. The black and gold should be a cockerel, 9 weeks old and that comb. The only thing about that comb that has me saying 'should be' instead of 'no doubt' is the color. The comb is larger than the average pullet's at this age, but its not very red, and still quite pink. Same with the black. If they redden up in the next week or 3 you'll know for sure that they're cockerels. Otherwise they could be early blooming pullets.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Most likely cockerels.

 

[TXChickenFarmer01]

Thanks all for the info! It's abosutely extremely helpful as we are beyond novice chicken folk (these are out first go). The one with the gold has begun the baby gargle crows in the last few days and the comb is starting to redden up so I'm now fully convinced he's a roo. The other, smaller one isn't showing sure signs yet so we'll wait and see on that one. Thanks again everyone!