I know I have too many roos, help?

[NatJ]

As long as you recognize that you're in denial, feel free to stay there as long as you like

Mature roosters do have longer tails than mature hens, but that doesn't hold true when they're chicks. If anything, it seems that roosters are more likely to have short tails when they're young.

You are right that your cockerels currently have combs the size of mature hens' combs. The problem is that yours are only 8 weeks old, and pullets don't grow their combs that big, that fast.

 

[mandymcg05]

Anything with that much red at 8 weeks is a male.
Comparing to hen photos is folly..... sorry.
I slaughter cockerels at about 14-16 weeks,
still tender enough for the grill(after resting cleaned carcass 48-72 hours),
and before they start causing too much chaos in the coop.

How do you explain the difference in the tail then? That was the only reason I was holding out for her!

 

[mandymcg05]

Alright. I guess they’re all going then! Thanks for the help guys.

 

[aart]

How do you explain the difference in the tail then? That was the only reason I was holding out for her!

I don't go by anything but size and color of comb and wattles up to about 8 weeks,
which 9.5 times out of 10 is accurate on most breeds.
Most everything else is mere speculation, IMO.
Gender specific feathering(hackles and saddles) doesn't really become apparent until maybe 3 but closer to 4 months. Tail feathers, meh<shrugs> they can grow at different rates even in the same breed.