Is this a cockerel or pullet??

[#lovemychickens]

I originally thought our Buff Orpington was a pullet but as she gets older I'm beginning to think she might be a he. Please weigh in on what your thoughts are and why. I'd like to learn what to look for to accurately determine the gender. Oh and our chickens are currently 10 weeks old and we have not heard any crowing yet! Fingers crossed it's a pullet!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Pullet

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A rooster would have a big red comb by now.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Pullet

 

[#lovemychickens]

I was thinking it could have been a cockerel due to some of the longer feathers that kinda curl on the tail. Would it be safe to say that if my other chickens don't have a big red comb they are all pullets too? I'm new to raising chickens so I thought I'd ask all the experts out there!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

They're what? more than sixteen weeks? If they don't have a big, red comb by this point, they probably won't get one until they start laying.

 

[#lovemychickens]

As of yesterday they are all 10 weeks old.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Wow. She looks a lot bigger next to that wheelbarrow--but I suppose I'm comparing her to my leghorns when I should be comparing to the wyandotte crosses. Silly me.

 

[#lovemychickens]

Do they get much bigger after 10 weeks or are they considered full grown by then?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Ten weeks is (usually) about half the size of the grown, year-old hen. I've never owned BuffO's (really, really wanted to, but life) but my chicks hatched out from under their mother are currently at eleven weeks and about two pounds each. Momma's about five pounds. Dad was about 3.5 pounds and a leghorn/EE cross.