Hmong chicks, 5 weeks - pullet or cockerel?

[SuperFluffyChickens]

Hello, this spring was my first time hatching chicks (aka not just buying sexed chicks) and for most of the babies I hatched I have a pretty good idea about whether they’re male or female, but I’m pretty stumped on my Hmong chicks. I’ve never raised Asian/Game-type breeds before so I’m not familiar with their natural posture/body shape, and a couple of them have pea combs too. Plus they’re all some degree of fibro so judging comb/wattle color is hard. Any guesses? They’re 5 weeks old tomorrow.

Chick 1:

Someone else online said they’re a cockerel, but I’m not 100% sure. Pretty hard to photograph since they’re so black, and also very friendly so they want to get too close to the camera. Keeping this one regardless of gender. Seems to have no noticeable comb or wattle growth, but they are larger than the others and are bold and outgoing.

Chick 2:

This one’s pretty flighty and shy, has a lighter build than Chick 1.

Chick 3:

Another chick that’s flighty and shy, they’re even smaller than Chick 2. A bit sassy though, seen play fighting with other chicks.

Chick 4:

This one’s a bit shy but calmer than Chicks 2 and 3, will hang out on my shoulder sometimes. Very pretty!

Thanks everyone in advance, raising chicks from hatching has been an amazing experience.

Bonus: I’m pretty sure this one’s a cockerel, kind of an old pic and his comb’s a bit pinker now, but he’s the sweetest thing and very pretty too! Hope he stays nice!

 

[JedJackson]

3 and 4 have a bit of wattle development, so they could be cockerels. For me these aren't mature enough to tell gender with any kind of certainty. I'd give them some more time, keeping an eye on the combs and wattles. Growth spurts in those areas in the next few weeks would most likely mean a cockerel.

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

3 and 4 have a bit of wattle development, so they could be cockerels. For me these aren't mature enough to tell gender with any kind of certainty. I'd give them some more time, keeping an eye on the combs and wattles. Growth spurts in those areas in the next few weeks would most likely mean a cockerel.

Yes, I noticed their wattles today too, and that chicks 1 and 2 had barely any. Thanks for the reply! It’s interesting how they’re developing much more slowly than the other breeds I’m raising, my Favaucana cockerels already have big pink combs and wattles. But everyone grows at their own pace, can’t rush Mother Nature!

 

[JedJackson]

Yes, I noticed their wattles today too, and that chicks 1 and 2 had barely any. Thanks for the reply! It’s interesting how they’re developing much more slowly than the other breeds I’m raising, my Favaucana cockerels already have big pink combs and wattles. But everyone grows at their own pace, can’t rush Mother Nature!

Indeed! Hmong chickens weren't bred to be fast developers like Faverolles or most of the other American and European breeds, so far as I know. It's just going to take a bit of time. They are pretty.

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

Indeed! Hmong chickens weren't bred to be fast developers like Faverolles or most of the other American and European breeds, so far as I know. It's just going to take a bit of time. They are pretty.

Yes, I guessed that was the case. And thank you! They’re really a stunning breed. They’ve been great to raise so far, even if some of them are a bit flighty they might grow out of it. The breeder I got them from was raving about how they’re like the perfect chicken and her personal favorite on her farm, so I just had to get some!

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

8 week update, a couple of them are looking more mature and I can make an educated guess, but I’m still stumped TBH.

Chick 1:

Still think this one might be a cockerel, it’s the largest of its siblings and has thick legs, but no comb or wattle growth and no sign of sex feathers yet.

Chick 2:

Pretty sure this is a cockerel, has a rounded comb and sparse back feathers. Very flighty and hard to get good photos in my coop’s bad lighting

Chick 3:

Think this is a pullet, she’s tiny and has a flat comb with no wattles yet.

Chick 4:

I thought this was a pullet for a while and it still might be, comb is tiny and pale, but the wattles look a bit red although they’re still small. This one’s sooo pretty, I really hope it’s a pullet but, of course, it’s not my decision.

Also, another chick that I’m pretty sure is a cockerel, just to show off how pretty he is, his name’s Apollo:

 

[MistRidge]

8 week update, a couple of them are looking more mature and I can make an educated guess, but I’m still stumped TBH.

Chick 1: View attachment 3877788View attachment 3877789View attachment 3877790
Still think this one might be a cockerel, it’s the largest of its siblings and has thick legs, but no comb or wattle growth and no sign of sex feathers yet.

Chick 2: View attachment 3877793View attachment 3877794
Pretty sure this is a cockerel, has a rounded comb and sparse back feathers. Very flighty and hard to get good photos in my coop’s bad lighting

Chick 3:

View attachment 3877796View attachment 3877797View attachment 3877798
Think this is a pullet, she’s tiny and has a flat comb with no wattles yet.

Chick 4:View attachment 3877800View attachment 3877801View attachment 3877802
I thought this was a pullet for a while and it still might be, comb is tiny and pale, but the wattles look a bit red although they’re still small. This one’s sooo pretty, I really hope it’s a pullet but, of course, it’s not my decision.

Also, another chick that I’m pretty sure is a cockerel, just to show off how pretty he is, his name’s Apollo:

View attachment 3877804View attachment 3877805

I'm curious - what did they end up being?

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

I'm curious - what did they end up being?

It’s shocking, but they were all pullets! Chick 1, her name is Blackbird now, just started laying yesterday, as a matter of fact!

 

[MistRidge]

It’s shocking, but they were all pullets! Chick 1, her name is Blackbird now, just started laying yesterday, as a matter of fact!

Oh wow, what a nice surprise! I've got these two little ones (~6 weeks old) who I was trying to compare with yours, hehe. The slightly bigger comb size of the lighter one has me suspicious but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they're both pullets too. Congrats on the first egg, Blackbird!

 

[Finnie]

It’s shocking, but they were all pullets! Chick 1, her name is Blackbird now, just started laying yesterday, as a matter of fact!

This is the first time I’ve seen this thread, and I don’t know anything about this breed, so I was guessing as I read along, hoping there would be an answer at the end. I had not seen any that looked like cockerels to me, not even that first one. All pullets, how nice! (Unless you needed a rooster for breeding.)