Is 9 weeks too early to tell for sure?

Shemira

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Hey lovely chicken folks,
I have a batch of speckled Sussex chicks who are 9 weeks today.
As they are getting pretty big its getting very cramped in our coop (with 3 others older ones too).
We know we are going to need to cull some cockerels.
Out of the 10 I'm pretty sure of some of their genders, there are a few I'm on the fence about.
The ones I'm pretty sure are cockerels.. is there a possibility I could be wrong?
I mean I know there is, that's a subjective question lol. But if they are standing tall, fighting with each other, big red combs and wattles - is there any percentage chance one of those could be a pullet, or am I safe to assume they are cockerels?
Just terrified of culling a pullet :-/
 
Ok these are the 4 I am thinking I'm pretty certain of (this is so sad, I hate this part :(
(there are others I am on the fence about but just looking at these 4 for now)
Can I feel pretty confident they are 4 cockerels? I feel like yes...

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If I had to place a bet, I think I'm going to end up with 4 pullets and 6 cockerels.
TIA for any input :)
 
I would agree, the ones you clocked as cockerels are definitely 100% boys. Never have I ever seen a chick with that much wattle development at 9 weeks turn out to be a pullet. You can cull them without worrying they're secret pullets. And the three you think are pullets all look like girls to me too.
 
I would agree, the ones you clocked as cockerels are definitely 100% boys. Never have I ever seen a chick with that much wattle development at 9 weeks turn out to be a pullet. You can cull them without worrying they're secret pullets. And the three you think are pullets all look like girls to me too.
oh so good to hear, thank you so much :)
 
I think that your gender assessments are correct. That first bird is going to be a gorgeous rooster.
They are such gorgeous boys, so friendly and affectionate too, I am devastated I couldn't find homes for any of them :(
 
I would agree, the ones you clocked as cockerels are definitely 100% boys. Never have I ever seen a chick with that much wattle development at 9 weeks turn out to be a pullet. You can cull them without worrying they're secret pullets. And the three you think are pullets all look like girls to me too.
My six-month-old SS pullets combs and wattles are smaller that those on those four boys.
 

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