Is it a he or a she?

[asteppa]

We are still pretty new to raising chickens. We bought our first 4 babies in April and 3 of them ended up being cockerels (we only want hens). We then had one lonely chicken and 3 new babies. Now those new babies are almost 4 months old. Our oldest hen is almost 6 months old and is a Dorking. Two of the younger ones are Rhode Island Reds. We are pretty positive those are both Pullets. Our Silver Laced Wyandotte is making us wonder though. "She" is sounding like a goose these days. We really hope we
did not end up with another cockerel. What do you all think?

 

[Michael OShay]

With wattles and comb that red, and wattles that developed, if the Silver Laced Wyandotte in your pic is only 4 months old, it is a male.

 

[Old Rando]

At http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Wyand/BRKWyand.htm If you scroll down you will see photos of a Silver laced Wyandotte cockerel, at four months your young chicken should be well on its way in developing this male coloring. It has not and is a female coloring for this variety. A four month old male's comb and wattle would be more developed than that bird also.

 

[asteppa]

Thank you for the reply. I could not get your link to work, but I think I still found the site. I do not see the 4 month old cockerel, but I see a pullet. I may be looking in a different spot.

I redid my math and "she" is actually only 3 months and 1 week old. Do you still think it is a she?

 

[Old Rando]

After I posted the link I checked it and saw it wasn't working. The pictures do not say four month old cockerel it just says cockerel. That is why I posted a photo of the cockerel. Usually male adult plumage starts showing by about four to six weeks. So yes I feel confident it is a pullet even at three months and one week old.

 

[asteppa]

Yeah, because we are quite fond of her and don't want to have to give her away. Her voice is very goose like. Is this common? I could not find anything anywhere that talks about their voices. Hers is much deeper then our other pullets at the same age.

 

[Old Rando]

I do no know about her voice issue. If I heard it might know, but I might not. I hope she is just odd and not unwell.