Help sexing my Australorp please

[Sonya 101]

Would any one have an idea of the gender of my Australorp. I live in town and a rooster would not go down very well with my neighbours. He or she is 8 weeks old in these photos.
Cheers

 

[chooks4life]

Hard to tell, some of the feathers are a bit odd, but at this point I am leaning more towards it being a male than female... But I can't see the shape of the feathers close enough.

I will try to explain what feathers to look for. On the shoulders and wings, all chicks start with feathers that have a "U" outline to them. When a male grows his first 'roo feathers' you will see the "U" outline is still there, but now the solid filling of the "U" has retreated to a"V" in the middle and the rest of the "U" is completed by finer, shinier "fringe" style filaments. Does this make sense? These feathers often look darker and shiner, too, because the surface is different and reflects light differently. On the rump and neck, the feathers begin to grow out longer and pointer than a female's, and again, they are darker and shinier, with more fringe. The fringe is filaments that do not connect one to the other like a normal feather's filaments do. Instead, they sit alongside one another, close but not interlocked.

I will try to do you a sketch or get some photos uploaded to detail the differences.

Best wishes.

 

[donrae]

Usually at 8 weeks it's pretty easy, but this one--I'm just not sure.

I'm leaning toward pullet, just early maturing. The overall bird looks feminine to me, and the comb isn't near as large as I'd expect from a cockerel this age.

Then again, a late maturing cockerel isn't completely unheard of, either.

Sorry I can't be more definitive! Maybe post again in 4ish weeks and we can see how things are developing. Of course, if it at any time starts crowing, it's male.

 

[sourland]

I too am guessing an early developing pullet. If it were older than 8 weeks, I would say pullet for sure.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I am also guessing Pullet. My last batch of pullets this year got red in the face really early. I think your bird has a feminine body type, cockerals tend to blocky and gangly looking.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Oh and I just noticed that you only have 2 posts,

:yiipchick Welcome to the BYC ! :yiipchick

Good choice on the breed too, I love my Aussies!

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

Would any one have an idea of the gender of my Australorp. I live in town and a rooster would not go down very well with my neighbours. He or she is 8 weeks old in these photos.
Cheers

So just wondering...was it a boy or girl???

 

[Sonya 101]

A Pullet, and a lovely girl she is to....many thanks everyone

 

[donrae]

Thanks for the update! Always nice to see how things turned out..