Is Dent a boy? And what about chicks with hackles?

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I know... it's early. But I can't take it. I want to know!! What gender are my chicks???? (This is my first self-hatch).

This chick is Dent. Red Orpington roo x Blue Rock (probably) mama. Dent is 4 weeks in these pics. The comb is large, but at the same time his mama has a big comb. His wattles seem really red compared to his comb. Does that mean anything? Dent is the heaviest of my chicks, and is extremely out going/assertive (again- so was his mama as a chick - I worried she was a roo).

Dent's red wattles at 3 weeks

Here's a pic of Dent's mama now (11 months old) and as a 4 week old chick for comb comparion. She grew slowly as a chick but developed her comb early. She is still smaller than my other hens which is why I think she's the Blue Rock (she has Andalusian traits). In the photo of the 2 chicks, Siggy (Dent's mama) is on the left. The chick to the right is the same age and I think is a Rhode Island Blue.

Also, when my chicks are sparing, I've noticed a few of them put their hackles up like my roo does when he squares off with my dog. If they put hackles up like that (like the whole neck fluffs up encircling the face), does that mean it's a roo? Or do both genders do that as chicks? I have not seen raised hackles on Dent, yet, but a couple other chicks have them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Dent is 4 weeks in these pics. The comb is large, but at the same time his mama has a big comb. His wattles seem really red compared to his comb. Does that mean anything?

At 4 weeks with that comb. the red wattles, the relatively long heavy legs, and the upright posture that is a boy. Sorry.

Also, when my chicks are sparing, I've noticed a few of them put their hackles up like my roo does when he squares off with my dog. If they put hackles up like that (like the whole neck fluffs up encircling the face), does that mean it's a roo? Or do both genders do that as chicks?

Both genders do that.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Agreed on both counts. He is a beautiful little cockerel!

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Well, poop!

The silver lining is that we already decided Dent was a keeper regardless of how many males we end up with, because he's defective and I don't think I can sell a dented rooster. So now I have 2/5 males, and I'm fairly certain my other wynadotte mix chick is a boy, too. So that leaves the last 2 chicks. One of them had hackles up while sparing, so I'm glad to hear that hackles raised does not automatically mean a boy. Fingers crossed I have at least 2 girls out of these 5.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Here is what Dent looks like now!