I have Buff Orpington questions.

[Jenentonic]

So I was sold three buff Orpington pullets, supposedly (along with multiple chickens from other breeds). They are six weeks old now.
So this one that has the little bit of a red comb in the picture is the one I’m concerned about. First of all I’ve been worried about this chicken anyway because she seems to be picking at her feathers and they look a little mangy. I’ve observed to make sure nobody else is picking at her, and they’re not. She’s picking at herself if anything. Not constantly and she’s otherwise very perky and active, a bit pushy if anything (she likes to jump on other chickens heads), and seems content in every other way. Her two cohorts who are supposedly exactly the same age and breed as her look totally smooth and perfect and the older they get the less like this chicken they look. They hardly have combs at all, what they do have is beige, they are slightly rounder and smoother, no feather issues, etc.
So what do you guys think? Are they all the same breed, is this chicken just a weirdo, is this chicken a different breed, a rooster or what? Tell me what you think.

 

[Mr Beaks]

The one with the big red comb is a cockerel. All Buff Orpingtons.

 

[MidnightMaran]

Yes, that does look like a cockerel. I don't think he's a different breed, and he's probably a little rough-looking because he's growing in his rooster feathers.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Cockerel

 

[RainbowHen]

6 weeks? Oh boy. That's most likely a boy. Cockerels feather slower which could be the cause of the "mangy" appearance. I would also check for mites and lice. Could be just chewing at itself because of new feathers coming in but to be safe, I would check.

 

[Jenentonic]

6 weeks? Oh boy. That's most likely a boy. Cockerels feather slower which could be the cause of the "mangy" appearance. I would also check for mites and lice. Could be just chewing at itself because of new feathers coming in but to be safe, I would check.

I did check and found nothing. He/she’s been housed with the other 15 this entire time, so not likely to be the only one affected anyway.

 

[Jenentonic]

The only reason I doubted rooster is that he almost seems leaner than the other ones, but maybe roosters being bigger at this age isn’t as much a thing?

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

The cockerels at a young age are often leaner, and take on a gangly appearance and are less filled out than the pullets.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Can I interject a question since we’re discussing BO’s. Mine are now just 16 weeks old and have started to lay? They look like these lovely ladies, however I got my first egg from them today. Could they be a sexlink?

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Can I interject a question since we’re discussing BO’s. Mine are now just 16 weeks old and have started to lay? They look like these lovely ladies, however I got my first egg from them today. Could they be a sexlink?

Pictures?