I think SHE is in fact a HE?

[cherrynberry]

I always see the first saddle feathers come out in my Brahmas at 8-9 weeks old. Obviously they are not visible until you search them, for seeing them without having to search them you have to wait more.

Although, I believe brahmas feathers in quicker, it does depend on breed as well. Male saddles definitely dont come in that early for all breeds.

 

[myawesomepullets]

Male saddles come in much later, your birds are both cockerels, I am sure about it. Nothing about them is female like at all.

Oh dear. I guess I’ll just wait and see.

 

[cherrynberry]

Oh dear. I guess I’ll just wait and see.

Can you keep roosters? If not, I recommend rehoming now if you are going that path. Cockerels and roosters take a while to rehome.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

Their combs are so red! Both cockerels.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Although, I believe brahmas feathers in quicker, it does depend on breed as well. Male saddles definitely dont come in that early for all breeds.

Brahmas feather in incredibly slowly. I fed 28% protein and never had a picking problem, yet had a cockerel have a completely bare back until 14-16 weeks. Most of my Brahmas have saddle feathers under their main cushion of feathers by ten weeks but you would have to know what to look for and search for them. I would expect most any other breed (minus other slow growers like Cochins or Orloffs) to have them emerging by ten weeks assuming they've been fed high enough protein for feather growth. The 8-9 weeks estimate seems entirely plausible, especially if the Brahmas were from a hatchery line as they growth much faster than my birds did!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Both birds are definitely cockerels

 

[cherrynberry]

Brahmas feather in incredibly slowly. I fed 28% protein and never had a picking problem, yet had a cockerel have a completely bare back until 14-16 weeks. Most of my Brahmas have saddle feathers under their main cushion of feathers by ten weeks but you would have to know what to look for and search for them. I would expect most any other breed (minus other slow growers like Cochins or Orloffs) to have them emerging by ten weeks assuming they've been fed high enough protein for feather growth. The 8-9 weeks estimate seems entirely plausible, especially if the Brahmas were from a hatchery line as they growth much faster than my birds did!

Oh thats very interesting. I will check with my EE cockerel, maybe male saddles will be coming in in 2-3 weeks.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Oh thats very interesting. I will check with my EE cockerel, maybe male saddles will be coming in in 2-3 weeks.

Yep! For me it's easiest to check for anything super shiny in the dull cushion of the back

 

[cherrynberry]

Brahmas feather in incredibly slowly. I fed 28% protein and never had a picking problem, yet had a cockerel have a completely bare back until 14-16 weeks. Most of my Brahmas have saddle feathers under their main cushion of feathers by ten weeks but you would have to know what to look for and search for them. I would expect most any other breed (minus other slow growers like Cochins or Orloffs) to have them emerging by ten weeks assuming they've been fed high enough protein for feather growth. The 8-9 weeks estimate seems entirely plausible, especially if the Brahmas were from a hatchery line as they growth much faster than my birds did!

But, I dont feed that high protein. 20% is what I feed. I asked @aart a while ago if high protein caused any issues, but I never got a reply...

 

[cherrynberry]

Yep! For me it's easiest to check for anything super shiny in the dull cushion of the back

Well I feed 20% protein, so not as high.