- Apr 24, 2014
- 43
- 8
- 89
Hello! I’ve got a decent record of calling pulley/cockerel at a fairly young age and I was CERTAIN that this one was a rooster from the moment I got him home, but as they’re growing, he’s not hitting the milestones that I’d expected and now I’m wondering if he’s a hen.
Got four chicks on March 5, all sexed pullets, at a store 100 miles away that had Blue Langshans. Got 2 EE pullets to fulfill the minimum purchase. One died overnight, so I had to get a replacement from the local store, which only had straight run. The overconfident teenager helping me wouldn’t let me look at the comb but insisted that she was great at feather sexing and she had picked out a girl. Got him home, looked at the comb, 3 rows of peas. Not extremely obvious, but definitely different from the obvious pullet that had 1 row. He’s also been noticeably bulkier than the other chicks, but it’s possibly that he’s a couple days older.
Now, they’re 15 weeks old and I would have expected to be sure by this point. The other EE is an obvious pullet, but this guy isn’t making himself known. My husband told me he heard crowing one day last month when he let them out, but he didn’t see the culprit and I haven’t heard anything since. I’m pretty sure he just mistook an egg song, because I have some LOUD hens. This little guy’s comb isn’t growing much and looks very similar to the pullet’s comb now. Not a hint of pink. No hackle or saddle feathers yet, though his plumage does seem fluffier. He’s quite nervous and has never acted like a rooster. It’s driving me nuts! I think he’s beautiful and I live in the city, so I’d love it if he’s a girl, but I just can’t decide. Help?
I have tried my best to add a super zoomed-in view of the comb as an inset in the pics where it’s visible, but the photo quality just isn’t great-sorry!
Got four chicks on March 5, all sexed pullets, at a store 100 miles away that had Blue Langshans. Got 2 EE pullets to fulfill the minimum purchase. One died overnight, so I had to get a replacement from the local store, which only had straight run. The overconfident teenager helping me wouldn’t let me look at the comb but insisted that she was great at feather sexing and she had picked out a girl. Got him home, looked at the comb, 3 rows of peas. Not extremely obvious, but definitely different from the obvious pullet that had 1 row. He’s also been noticeably bulkier than the other chicks, but it’s possibly that he’s a couple days older.
Now, they’re 15 weeks old and I would have expected to be sure by this point. The other EE is an obvious pullet, but this guy isn’t making himself known. My husband told me he heard crowing one day last month when he let them out, but he didn’t see the culprit and I haven’t heard anything since. I’m pretty sure he just mistook an egg song, because I have some LOUD hens. This little guy’s comb isn’t growing much and looks very similar to the pullet’s comb now. Not a hint of pink. No hackle or saddle feathers yet, though his plumage does seem fluffier. He’s quite nervous and has never acted like a rooster. It’s driving me nuts! I think he’s beautiful and I live in the city, so I’d love it if he’s a girl, but I just can’t decide. Help?
I have tried my best to add a super zoomed-in view of the comb as an inset in the pics where it’s visible, but the photo quality just isn’t great-sorry!
