Could we be a he or a she?

[Vettech716]

I purchased this light Brahma as unsexed. And for a while I thought hen and I really hope that thought is correct. My only reason to second guess this is “she” crowed the other day. But everything I’ve read and seen seem to point at female. Help! We love her and don’t want to have to rehome. This picture was also taken on a day that we had extreme heat. Today the crown and wobble are no where near that red.

 

[Jener8or]

I think I see some pointy hackle feathers coming in and if it's crowing it is probably a male. Do you know the age?

 

[nuthatched]

If under 17 weeks, that's a dude.

 

[Vettech716]

I think I see some pointy hackle feathers coming in and if it's crowing it is probably a male. Do you know the age?

I thought they looked pointy too in the picture but actually looking at the bird they are more rounded and no saddle feathers coming down.

I got her on 4/19/25 and assume she was a week old 2 weeks tops. So she is anywhere from 11-12 weeks old I assume.

 

[Vettech716]

If under 17 weeks, that's a dude

I’m curious to know what you’re looking at to determine your thought. Im trying to learn.

 

[Pigeony]

I’m curious to know what you’re looking at to determine your thought. Im trying to learn.

The size of the comb and wattles are a major tell, with or without the redness. That much comb and wattle is about all an adult hen of this breed would get, and to have it at 3 months strongly suggests male. Brahmas are slow growers, I wouldn't expect a hen to have a comb or wattles like that until 5 months at earliest. The hackle feathers are also starting to show slightly, saddle feathers may not be far behind or may even be visible with a close-up picture.

 

[Vettech716]

The size of the comb and wattles are a major tell, with or without the redness. That much comb and wattle is about all an adult hen of this breed would get, and to have it at 3 months strongly suggests male. Brahmas are slow growers, I wouldn't expect a hen to have a comb or wattles like that until 5 months at earliest. The hackle feathers are also starting to show slightly, saddle feathers may not be far behind or may even be visible with a close-up picture.

Is it possible it’s maturing faster because the other chickens I have are females?

 

[Pigeony]

Is it possible it’s maturing faster because the other chickens I have are females?

You could be partially right, as they've discovered through various studies that a dominant rooster can suppress the testosterone/development of younger or less dominant roosters. But also every bird grows at their own pace, so it's impossible to know for sure. But I would strongly say he is male.

 

[Vettech716]

You could be partially right, as they've discovered through various studies that a dominant rooster can suppress the testosterone/development of younger or less dominant roosters. But also every bird grows at their own pace, so it's impossible to know for sure. But I would strongly say he is male.

Dang… of course the male has to be the one that is our favorite and where I live we can’t have roosters.

 

[sourland]

'Comb and wattles' - yes, that's a cockerel.