I can sex your pullets and cockerels!

[junebuggena]

What are your thoughts as to why you think all pullets, even with one have extremely long waddles and always red? Thank you!

Well, they are about 4 months old and that means they are approaching egg laying, reddening combs and wattles are to be expected. And a male at that age would at least have some visible male feathering.

 

[junebuggena]

Hi all! My girls are getting older (about 7 weeks, the grow like weeds!) and I'm pretty sure they are all hens...except Jupiter. She or He has a different peeping noise than the others (more of cluck...which I suppose may be a Jersey Giant thing?). Here is a recent photo of "her," what do you all think? She is the lady in black.

Pullet.

 

[chicken danz]

We're at about seven weeks now for these two Orpingtons-- the blue is a few days younger than the cuckoo, and still not quite fully feathered. Any guesses? I keep going back and forth, but at first blush, I think the cuckoo might be a pullet and the blue might be a roo, based on comb size. Orpingtons are tough!


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I disagree. First the cuckoo is not a pure cuckoo bird like a barred rock, it has been crossed to give the cuckoo pattern which is imperfect. I see the cuckoo as a female even though it has a prminant comb. Simply because orpingtons carry a slow feathering gene in males and if it were a cockerel it's back wouldn't be that feathered. The blue or black is showing signs of being a possible male due to lack of feathering but still may also be a female depending on how much younger it is than the barred one.

Light Brahma body shots. 2 pairs are shaped exactly the same but opposite the others. 1 pair tail is full and starts more at the back. 2nd pair tail/feather is slender and not as full starting closer to the tail. (Sully the one previously questioned as a Cockerel is the only one who's waddles and comb constantly stay red and are definitely more visible. This is getting confusing... Coming up on 15 weeks Saturday. Thoughts...what do you see? Discussion is welcome no opinion will offend me as I'm looking more for thoughts and why,for future reference, also for others questioning. Thanks everyone!


(Lemon blue Cochins were easy, blue/lemon- Cockerel named Steele and Lemon/blue- pullet named Remi)

I see one male and three females. The one with the red comb and wattles is definitely male. You mention another one has the same tail shape but I can't see a picture of it's head in particular along with the tail shape. A little too much light on pictures of it's feathers as well to see difinitive shape. Brahma boys are leggy and stand much taller and upright than the female counterparts. The one with more pattern on it's back that appears to want to stay in the food bowl could be a male too but I can't see it's features well enough to tell for sure.

 

[junebuggena]

I've heard that, about the barring gene, but can't find a good picture of single vs ddouble barred at this age. The coloration and barring looks far more similar to photos I see of cuckoo hens than roos-- am I not noticing something?

See how wide the white 'bars' are compared to the black bars? That's what the difference is between male and female barring. Here is a photo showing a few pullets with barring (single copy of the gene) compared to a cockerel with male specific barring. See how the pullets have thicker black bars and less white than the male.

 

[homestead chick]

I disagree. First the cuckoo is not a pure cuckoo bird like a barred rock, it has been crossed to give the cuckoo pattern which is imperfect. I see the cuckoo as a female even though it has a prminant comb. Simply because orpingtons carry a slow feathering gene in males and if it were a cockerel it's back wouldn't be that feathered. The blue or black is showing signs of being a possible male due to lack of feathering but still may also be a female depending on how much younger it is than the barred one.

I see one male and three females. The one with the red comb and wattles is definitely male. You mention another one has the same tail shape but I can't see a picture of it's head in particular along with the tail shape. A little too much light on pictures of it's feathers as well to see difinitive shape. Brahma boys are leggy and stand much taller and upright than the female counterparts. The one with more pattern on it's back that appears to want to stay in the food bowl could be a male too but I can't see it's features well enough to tell for sure.

Sorry for the pic quality... getting all of them in the same spot is tricky. You're dead on though with the one in the food bowl. That one (supposed pullet until the last couple of weeks) has the same shape as the one,Sully, I believe to be a Cockerel. This( pattern on back) one has developed slightly longer wattles but has the same shape as Sully,so I'm questioning "her" as well. Sully stays red 24/7 now so 99% leaning towards Cockerel. Thank you!

 

[homestead chick]

Well, they are about 4 months old and that means they are approaching egg laying, reddening combs and wattles are to be expected. And a male at that age would at least have some visible male feathering.

Do the Brahmas follow the same age for egg laying, I thought it was much later 22 weeksish? They are standard and not bantam- forgot to add.

 

[junebuggena]

Do the Brahmas follow the same age for egg laying, I thought it was much later 22 weeksish? They are standard and not bantam- forgot to add.

Hatchery sourced birds start laying somewhere around 20 to 24 weeks. Show quality birds usually don't start laying till about 24 weeks or later.

 

[homestead chick]

Hatchery sourced birds start laying somewhere around 20 to 24 weeks. Show quality birds usually don't start laying till about 24 weeks or later.

Wow...thank you I didn't know that. They came from a small breeder so it may be a little longer than I even suspected.

 

[Muffindoodle]

Would you please help me identify gender of this Silver Laced Wyandotte? It is 7 weeks old and has different tail feathers and larger than the other same breed and same aged chick. It bites and is more sassy than the smaller one. I'm new to chickens and can not figure out what it is. Thanks!

 

[lovescakes]

Think it's a Roo Easter Egger. 7 weeks old