How can you tell a baby rooster from a pullet?

[1stepcloser]

We bought 4 chicks from our local farmer's supply store. They were called "g pullets" but look like Orpington mutts. They are all doing great and follow me around the yard like I am mama hen. LOL They are approximately 3 weeks old. One (and only one) is growing tail feathers. The rest still have fuzzy butts.

Did we end up getting a roo?

 

[chicknjane]

Its hard to tell at 3 weeks. But what I've learned is that the roos will have a darker, more developed comb and wattle and larger feet. Though the larger feet wasn't as obvious to me as the comb and wattle at first.

 

[1stepcloser]

Her/his comb is barely noticable and looks the same as the other babies. No sign of a waddle on anyone yet.

 

[SweetWater]

At 3 weeks old your chicks should start getting their "big kid" feathers. The one that has tail feathers now could just be developing faster than your other 2. It's hard to tell what sex they when they are this young.

Mine are 4 weeks old and they are almost fully feathered out

You could try posting a pic of them in the "What breed or gender is this" section and see what others think.

 

[chicknjane]

Quote:
Great suggestion.

I think someone posted a way to tell gender using wing feathers, but can't remember specifics details.

 

[Pathfinders]

There’s a relatively easy way to tell the difference between male and female chickens at about three to four months of age (sometimes earlier, sometimes not.) Three weeks might be too early, but you can try this.

Sit or stand with a young bird facing your stomach. Look down at the area which on a human would be the lower back (this is called the saddle), just before the tail. Saddle feathers on a young male bird will be glossy and have pointed tips. Saddle feathers on a young female will be rounded and less glossy.

Of course, you can also look at comb size and length, as well as wattles (males get bigger redder combs and wattles than females.) As well, males tend to stand taller, have longer and thicker legs, and become more alert during potential danger, while females tend to be shorter, rounder, and crouch down during potential danger.

Hope this helps…

 

[Bookworm chick]

I don't know if the photo of my 4-week old chicks will help or not. At 3 weeks old, 3 of the chicks clearly had red combs developing. In the photo you can pick the three I think might be roos by their red combs. I know not all breeds are the same. I can live with only 3 out of 7 being roos.

 

[1stepcloser]

Thanks everyone and yes, the pics are very helpful.

I guess I am going to have to give it a few more weeks and wait to see what the combs start doing. Fingers crossed she stays a she otherwise we will be looking forward to a chicken dinner.

We def. can't have any roos since we are supposed to being slick about having them. I think the crowing might give us away.

 

[classless chickens]

I can usually tell by the comb development and redness. It is a good tell.



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[thornoelle]

I have 6 silkie chicks that are 4 weeks old. They are supposed to all be girls but one of them is developing a rather red spot where the comb will grow. I have heard that silkies are really tough to tell but could this mean that I have a roo?

I will take pics tomorrow and post to see what everyone thinks.