Hen or Roo? or is it too early to tell?

[1876 Farm]

How about the black one behind the red/white rooster? I'm pretty sure that that one is a hen, it's the same age as the others, but has no wattles or comb. Do you think it will always stay that way, never growing wattles or a comb?



And then there's this one... my crazy quilted one.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Hen or Roo??

Both are roosters.

 

[donrae]

How about the black one behind the red/white rooster? I'm pretty sure that that one is a hen, it's the same age as the others, but has no wattles or comb. Do you think it will always stay that way, never growing wattles or a comb?



And then there's this one... my crazy quilted one.

The little black bird does look like a hen. She'll probably get more comb/wattles as they days lengthen. I have two that look similar--just black mixed breed pullets. I call them the Crow Sisters!
Your patchwork guy is a rooster.

 

[1876 Farm]

Out of the six eggs that hatched, it looks like I will end up with only 1 hen (maybe). I wonder if it is related to picking out the nicest looking eggs? Would I have gotten better odds of more hens if I had just taken 6 straight run eggs, no mater the size?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Unfortunately egg size and color do not determine nor indicate gender...that would be nice if it did but it doesn't.

Some research I've read indicates that using slightly lower incubation temperatures of the eggs will kill male embryos more than female but it is risky and unreliable.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Brandi Leigh]

Nice coloring on these chickens.

 

[1876 Farm]

Nice coloring on these chickens.

Thank you... they are all crosses between a Black Copper Marans Rooster and either a Red Star, Buff Orpinghton, or Barred Rock hens.

Next spring I'm going to hatch BCM Roo x EEs hen eggs... and maybe a few BCM x Buff/Black Star eggs.

 

[carriebain]

I really like the coloring on patches!

 

[1876 Farm]

I believe my one and only hen from this hatch has finally started laying eggs!! I've noticed over the last couple of weeks a slightly darker egg mixed in with the eggs in the nesting boxes.

Here it is in the middle of these 17 eggs...

 

[donrae]

Yea for new layers!

I have a pullet hatched in mid June that started laying the day before solstice. Still waiting for her hatch mate.......