Gold-Laced Polish gender

[alb9202]

Holy cockerel! I still vote for a male! Hackle feather, saddle feathers, pointy crest feathers. If this was a pullet the top hat feathers would look round and more like a smooth hat. The waddle and comb popped last on my polish. My buff laced polish started to crow at 4 1/2 months. My polish crowed before my other 2 brahma cockerels the same same age. Cockerel cockerel cockerel......

 

[Tricoglossus]

Oh that does look like a cockerel. your established rooster is putting Ava in his place. your established rooster might not tolerate Ava, hopefully he will calm down a bit as it sounds very stressful and stressed chickens are more susceptible to disease.

 

[MusiGal]

Tricoglossus - Yes, that's what I was thinking. Thank you (and everyone) for your help. I have always had a heart that is tender towards the smallest and most defenseless of a flock, herd, pack, or litter, so it stands to reason, my heart is bent a little towards Ava. With that said, if I have to get rid of one of them, you can imagine that it won't be Ava, although the thought of having to get rid of any of them breaks my heart.

Oh well, I guess I'll put my big girl panties on and do what's best for the rest of the flock!

Thanks again, everyone!!

 

[racuda]

I think Ava could still be a she. Those crest feathers sure are rounded in the back for a boy. Are the feathers on her lower back shiny and pointed, or more dull and rounded? Here are two of my Tolbunt Polish at 8 weeks old. Cockerel on left, pullet on right:

 

[MusiGal]

Racuda,

Would you believe Shiny and round?

See if you agree. She/He definitely has some shinyness around the lower back feathers (the black looks green in the light). But from the photos, her back feathers look round like your pullet photo above. This has been exciting...I can't wait to find out what he/she ends up really being! She's 20 weeks old in these photos (they'll all be 21 weeks tomorrow).

 

[Tricoglossus]

This is exciting. I hope I'm wrong and you have a pullet!

 

[MusiGal]

Thanks, Tricoglossus! I don't know when Golden Laced Polish's should start laying...I'm sure pretty soon, so I'll keep an eye out. She/He hasn't tried to mate with any of the hens...this may be because she/he is too busy trying to stay away from Red! Either way, I know we'll know for sure in the coming days/weeks. I'll let everyone know what I find out.

 

[Farmer Viola]

MusiGal,
Any update on your Ava?

 

[MusiGal]

Honestly, I'm still not totally sure. Although I saw something on her head that can only be described as horns. After looking that up, the consensus is that always means male. I don't know much about this particular breed, but it also appears she is a Bantam. She/He is much smaller than the rest of my flock and just doesn't have the personality that I would think a rooster would have. He is very skiddish and timid and tries to stay around two particular hens in the flock...almost like a kid hiding behind his mother's skirt. If he can't find them and I am outside, he'll come running to me. Needless to say, he's got my heart.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Could you post some more pictures please?