how to tell? (besides the obvious)

[cbrown86]

So, I've been watching all these guessing games for roos and pullets. How can you really tell? Some people say that hens have red and can have big combs, as well as spur bumps. So, I'm confused... All of my 6 and 7 wk chicks came from the banded pullet bin at Atwoods, and all have pretty good sized combs that are pretty pink. I wouldn't care if they were roos, other than I want eggs, dang it!

*PICS ADDED (lots of them! literally, like 37)*

-Red n Betty

The 4 teens.

-Socks

-Red

-Red n Socks

-Group shots

-Soot

-Betty n Soot

Any roos? What breeds? They all came from banded pullet bins. Everyone always guesses on roo or not, but never on breeds. Also, socks is 6 wks, the others are 5 wks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A lot of times you really can't tell. Some breeds or crosses are a lot harder than others. But there are several indications and occasionally a dead giveaway. The younger they are, the more of a guessing game it is. Of course, some people are a lot better at this than others. And having others of the same breed and age to compare them to helps.

I have had a few hens with spurs. I have had pullets that develop decent combs fairly young. I look at wattles more than the comb, and even then I sometimes have surprises. Most of the time, I can say this is definitely a rooster before I can say this is definitely a pullet.

If you can post pictures, we can guess. At six to seven weeks age our guesses would probably be pretty good, but not necessarily definitely correct. Photos of the head showing comb and wattles are good, but full body pictures showing legs and and general posture and configuration are also very helpful.

And may I ask anyone that does venture a guess to state why they think that way.

How to post pictures/avatar
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26838

 

[cbrown86]

Thanks. I posted some pics, if you want to take a guess.

 

[donrae]

The ones who are black with brown/red/gold colored feathers on the neck and chest look like black sex-links. Thus, they'll all girls

The black cochin I'm thinking is a girl, but can tell better in a few weeks.
The multi-colored one may be a brown leghorn? Whatever she is, she's a girl.

 

[cbrown86]

Which one is cochin? The white and black? I'm hoping all girls. More eggs!

But it's ok if I get a roo.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not sure how many different chicks we are looking at. I'm guessing four.

The black with feathers on the legs is probably a Cochin. If all those photos are of the same chick, I really can't tell sex. Some look kind of roosterish due to basic configuration, but some don't at all. If it is the same one, I definitely do not know. I am not familiar with Cochin.

The ones that are basically black but with red/brown leakage around the neck area and with blackish legs are probably black sex link pullets. I'm not aware of anything else you are likely to get at a hatchery that has that coloration.

The other one that has a lot of brown on it looks lkind of roosterish to me, mainly from body configuration, posture, and legs, but I am far from sure. I'm not going to guess breed since I just don't know. If it is a leghorn, they have fairly large combs, so that could easily be a pullet from that perspective. Again, with me, I just don't know.

 

[sfw2]

Unless your camera flash bleached out the color, none of their combs look particularly red. The legs on the brown one do look a little thick, but . . .

 

[cbrown86]

Yes, there are 4. All of their combs and wattles are slightly pink, not too red yet.

 

[Jchantecler]

The one that everyone is saying looks like a cochin looks as if he has some langshan blood in him to me. You must of had fun photographing these birds.

 

[cbrown86]

I love taking pictures of EVERYTHING! Lol. And yes, they are fun to take pics of. They have such funny expressions.