Did I luck out and get all girls?

[MGB]

Hey y'all,

Relatively new chicken owner here with 3 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Buff Orpingtons, all of which are now at about 24 weeks. Just started getting my first eggs (or egg) the other day, and I'm wondering if I can conclusively determine gender by this point, as we're not allowed to keep roosters and I want to avoid disturbing my vegetarian daughters with fertilized eggs.

I don't see any definite roos in my flock, but as I said I'm a total newbie. All three RIRs seem to have prominent combs and wattles and at least four of the six repeatedly make a very annoying squawk-like sound (think chain-smoking woman screeching at her husband) that I suppose could be a crow-in-training. The Orpingtons don't seem to have matured as fast and aren't quite as vocal, but what do I know?

Any help sexing would be hugely appreciated. Here's the lineup:

Kybele

Nutmeg (not a great pic)

Rose

Azalea

Dottie

Daisy

 

[SueT]

Yes, looks like all pullets--RIR girls have big combs and loud squawking. Orpingtons are much mellower.

 

[MGB]

Thanks, Sue. Should have done my research on RIR volume. May need to bribe my neighbors with little oval offerings. Fortunately, here in VA, almost no one keeps their windows open, especially in summer.

 

[Chick or Treat]

Yep, you have all pullets!! They are beautiful! Oh, and just so you know, if you did have a rooster, the eggs wouldn’t start developing right away. As long as you collected them within a day, there won’t be an embryo.

 

[MGB]

Thanks CoT, for the feedback and heads up re: embryos. Even at 14, my daughters are still squeamish about weird looking food and I need them to eat these eggs to keep their protein up.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I see all pullets.
Here's how you tell chickens in adult plumage; males from females.

 

[MGB]

Thanks, Frazzemrat1. That's what I was thinking but it's hard to be confident on your first rodeo ;-)

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Thanks, Frazzemrat1. That's what I was thinking but it's hard to be confident on your first rodeo ;-)

I understand! My first group, I swore up and down I had half cockerels. I was wrong, and got all pullets... but it added to my chicken math. LOL

 

[drumstick diva]

x2 Frazzemrat1

 

[Alexandra33]

What a blessing....all ladies! Congratulations on your first flock, and first eggs!

~Alex