Curious comb?

[Dakar2009]

Been having a blast raising these little freaks and perusing the boards. What an amazing resource you have here.

Over the last day, one of my "chicks" (now 6 weeks old) seemed to have a growth spurt and developed interesting comb and waddles. Gippy has always been on the smaller size compared to the other chicks, but now I am wondering if this is a cockerel. It's comb is more pronounced (literally overnight) and the waddles are a deeper red than the other chicks.

What do you guys think? She/He even struck a nice pose for me to snap the pic.

If it is a cockerel, I'll have to rehome him before he starts screaming. When does that usually happen?

 

[nuthatched]

Likely a cockerel, he could start crowing any day now. But it won't be too noticeable at first, more comical than anything.

 

[All4Eggz]

I have never really had any cockerels begin crowing at 6 weeks. I would say, in my experience, 10+ weeks is the average age for cockerels to begin screaming.

He is looking like a cockerel. Are you able to get some side view photos of him?

 

[Dakar2009]

I'll see if I can get a side shot of Gippy. I got really lucky with that shot above, lol!!

I appreciate the input so far.

 

[Tretinker]

We had a cockerel crowing like a nutter most of the daylight hours from 6 weeks. He started out this little scream/squeak that turned into a loud scream/screech that turned into a crow and once he got the hang of it boy did he use it! And he was mega loud. We put him in the garage at night and he still woke us at 5am.

The other boy occasionally made a weird sound and at 8 weeks was just starting to produce a crow but he was much more chill.

From my next to nothing experience he does have quite a redness to him. My guess is Roo.

 

[Dakar2009]

Here is Gippy in profile. The lighting was bad by their coop last night when I finally got them to stand still.

The comb is even higher today. These things grow like weeds overnight!

 

[All4Eggz]

Here is Gippy in profile. The lighting was bad by their coop last night when I finally got them to stand still.

The comb is even higher today. These things grow like weeds overnight!

View attachment 3194275

I don't see anything screaming cockerel, but comparing his comb size to the other birds his age, he could be a cockerel. He could also just be a quick developing pullet.
Let me call in the experts.
@Overo Mare @Rhodebar Lover

 

[Painted Calls]

Looks like a pullet right now. Post updated pics in 2 weeks.

 

[Dakar2009]

Thank you, All!

Just curious what we are looking for from the side to help determine sex. Is it posture, head position, tail...?

 

[All4Eggz]

Thank you, All!

Just curious what we are looking for from the side to help determine sex. Is it posture, head position, tail...?

Tail feathers and cockerel-specific feathering. Side views always help when determining sex... one cannot determine sex on comb alone.
A good example of this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/meet-angevine-i-found-her-at-the-river.1539457/
This lady has a HUGE comb. But she is, in fact, a hen.
Her saddle feathers are rounded instead of pointed, like a cockerel would have.

Your (likely) pullet appears to have rounded saddle feathers, indicating she is likely a pullet.

We also look at the sickle feathers, which are the tail feathers. For a cockerel, they are usually long, skinny, and curved. It's not uncommon for pullets to have a curve to theirs as well, but pullets generally have wider and shorter sickle feathers.

Hackle feathers help, too, for sexing chickens. Cocks have skinny, long hackle feathers, while pullets have wider, shorter hackle feathers.

Found this for a visual.

Hopefully this helps.