Do black Australorp cockerels have a brown spot on their heads?

[cindyanne1]

I received my four black Australorp chicks today.

I had ordered 3 female and 1 male... so of course I'm trying to see if there are any signs as to which one is the male.

I noticed one of them has a brownish spot on his head. He's also the one that keeps kicking when I hold him on his back (I know that's an old wives' tale.)

But is that brown spot just a fluke or is it something the male Australorps have?

Thanks all!!

 

[lux_interior]

I'd say fluke... Australorp chicks have lots of white underneath, but I don't think any brown spots are a giveaway characteristic..... You'll just have to wait a few weeks and start looking for a big comb.... or a few more weeks and it'll go through puberty and try to crow

 

[chickenfever]

No, not a sign, Australorps shouldn't have any brown on them. Only black with spots of white.
You should be able to tell soon which is a boy though.

 

[EweSheep]

No brown feathers on a black Aussie!!! If they are from a hatchery, its a fault. If from a breeder, its a wait and see if you will get a brown Aussie!

 

[cindyanne1]

Hmmm... weird.

It's the only one out of the group that is that way. It almost looks like the spot could be a swipe with an orange or red marker or paint, but I would have no idea why the hatchery would mark their chicks like that, lol!

Here are a few pictures I just took. Forgive the really blurry one, but it was the one that showed the color the best.

Whatever it is, it makes that one easy to pick out of the bunch, so I have a feeling it'll be really tame!

 

[sfw2]

It probably is magic marker. Hatcheries often mark their roos.