How to tell if we have a rooster in the mix?

[alamama]

We have four 1 week old chicks. 2 barred rock and 2 production reds. One of the four is a bit different than the rest. (The barred rock) It's wing and tail feathers are greatly smaller than the rest, almost not there, compared to the others. It separates itself from the others not all of the time, but enough to notice.

Is she/he just a late bloomer (it is about the same size as the others), and less social or could it be a rooster?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Way too soon.

On both of those lines of birds, being single combed, you'll know at the end of brooding them. There isn't any pressing need to know right now as they are far too young to leave the brooder anyhow.

At 6 weeks, the cockerels will be sprouting their red combs and little red wattles. The pullets won't do that until weeks and weeks later. This sprouting of red combs and wattles is hormonal and a difference between males and females.

 

[alamama]

That's what we thought, but just checking. We can't have roosters here and didn't want to get too close to this one if we couldn't keep it.