Help to sex young Sussex 12 weeks

[RcoM]

Hi there everyone! People with Syssex experience will be needed here and with knowledge of saddle feathers!
The reason is this. Often there can be one rooster chick who develops a comb very slowly and throws people out. Or vice versa. The other roosters w obvious combs are easy to tell and obvious. I can tell those easily.
This bird I bought was supposedly a hen and has a small but red comb. It could be older than 12 weeks- up to 15 weeks. It's a Coronation Sussex. Let's call it "Mystery" for now.
Comb says hen. Wattle says either.
Body says roo but the base of tail feathers is different to her sisters I think? So calling saddle feather experts please! Also not sure but maybe the neck feathers look pointier too? I don't want to contact the breeder prematurely with my virtually non existent knowledge and experience with saddle feathers. But developing the ability to identify the earliest saddles coming in will help. On an older rooster these are obvious, too.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I'm leaning toward pullet!

 

[Pigeony]

Pullet, and I'd say closer to 15 weeks than 12.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

Tail feathers are soft and round, neck feathers are mostly round with sharp/pointed patterning on them, comb is small, pink with yellow tips (not red) and wattles are moderate you have a pullet

 

[RcoM]

Oh yay!!! Yes thank you so much to you both!

At some stage, I would love someone to post some pictures of saddle feathers when they first start coming in. It will certainly assist with two young new ones I have at the moment. I just can't tell from their combs as they are yellow- pink and little, but bigger than some. My little LIGHT sussex boy was so obvious from v early on. He is already crowing at 9 weeks too!! I'll post a pic of him later today

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Those feathers look like a fluffy cloud

 

[CascadiaRiver]

Oh yay!!! Yes thank you so much to you both!

At some stage, I would love someone to post some pictures of saddle feathers when they first start coming in. It will certainly assist with two young new ones I have at the moment. I just can't tell from their combs as they are yellow- pink and little, but bigger than some. My little LIGHT sussex boy was so obvious from v early on. He is already crowing at 9 weeks too!! I'll post a pic of him later today

Here's one for ya! and a pic (they're shinier, have thin/almost see though edges and they're all skinny & pointy, vs hens who's look very soft and much more rounded)
-https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/here-is-a-photo-of-rooster-saddle-feathers-just-as-they-start-to-come-in.1662002/

 

[AinaWGSD]

These are male saddle feathers just starting to come in on a 9-10 week old cockerel (yes, very early for saddle feathers to start coming in) They're a little easier to see than on yours because patterned feathers are a little easier to see individual feathers than solid.

Eta @CascadiaRiver posted a much better example of the difference between male and female feathering on solid colored feathers.

I went ahead and outlined a few feathers to highlight the difference between the rounded chick feathers and the new pointy male saddle feathers

 

[RcoM]

View attachment 4165959
These are male saddle feathers just starting to come in on a 9-10 week old cockerel (yes, very early for saddle feathers to start coming in) They're a little easier to see than on yours because patterned feathers are a little easier to see individual feathers than solid.

Eta @CascadiaRiver posted a much better example of the difference between male and female feathering on solid colored feathers. View attachment 4165989I went ahead and outlined a few feathers to highlight the difference between the rounded chick feathers and the new pointy male saddle feathers

Those illustrations from each of you are very helpful. To find them, do I part the feathers just above the tail (on top)? End of rump?

 

[RcoM]

Those feathers look like a fluffy cloud

Oh, believe me, they are!! Quite frankly, who doesn't love chickens?!