Could this mean cockerel?

[dmachze86]

I have 4 Buff Orpingtons around 3 weeks old. 3 of them are caught up on their feathering but I have this one that is behind. It's the friendliest out of the 4... Curious and will come right up to our hands. New to raising chicks and I thought I saw somewhere that slow feathering could be a sign of a roo. Or could she possibly just be a slow feather grower? She's the same size as the rest of them and as healthy as can be.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Slow/fast feathering only works guaranteed on specific mixes. Though the behavior does make it sound like a male

 

[dmachze86]

Slow/fast feathering only works guaranteed on specific mixes. Though the behavior does make it sound like a male

Thank you!!! I appreciate your advice.

 

[nuthatched]

Just an old wives tale, generally. though 'friendliest' can mean male

 

[dmachze86]

Just an old wives tale, generally. though 'friendliest' can mean male

I'll remember that, thank you!

 

[NatJ]

I thought I saw somewhere that slow feathering could be a sign of a roo. Or could she possibly just be a slow feather grower?

Either gender can grow feathers slowly or fast.

Because the gene for slow feathering is on the Z sex chromosome, people can plan specific breedings that let them sex the chicks by feathering speed. But for most chicks, the speed of feathering does not tell you anything about the gender of the chick.

 

[Iluveggers]

I had one baby that had no wing feathers, and no tail feathers after 2 weeks, and I was convinced she was a boy. I mean, she kept her baby bum fluff with no new tail feathers for about 3 weeks! Gave me quite the scare because of stuff you can read about feathering.

She is a beautiful hen, and lays even more beautiful eggs. So sometimes feathers can signify gender but sometimes even an seemingly obvious difference means nothing!