Is this a she or he dark (pencilled or partridge?) brahma?

[dookdook]

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie poster here. Wondering if some of you can lend your expertise. We just started our second flock of mixed breed chickens. We have 1xfrench wheaten moran, 3xgold laced wyandottes, 1xblack araucana, 1xlavender aroucana, 1xblack splash australorp, 1xblue australorp and 1xdark pencilled brahma. We live in a residential area so we are not permitted to have a cockeral (unless he's a silent cockeral). The bird in question is the Brahma. He's 10 weeks old. I want so much for this bird to be a Chicken but I'm thinking it's a cockeral. But what stumps me is that it has pencilling on alot of its feathers but is beginning to get more dark feathers now too. Here is a few photos what do you think? Just for reference we are in Australia and it's summer here so maybe that's why he isn't feathered well like some other brahma pics of same age I've seen from around the world? Maybe it isn't even a brahma. Oh also one iridescent black feather on the back of each wing. Long neck like a cockeral . Yeah I think I know the answer, I'd just love a confirmation from an expert. Oh also does anyone know if pencilled and partridge are the same pattern/marking/thing, or are they different types? Thanks in advance!

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Cockerel. Pullets never grow in solid black feathers.

 

[nuthatched]

Well, whether it's a he or she, it's still a chicken.
Looks like a boy so far, male dark brahmas are black and white, females have the penciling but brahma are notorious for late bloomers.

 

[dookdook]

Thats why its confusing! It has the nice pencilling and it also has these two black iridescent feathers, just two. Maybe its a cross? Not experienced with keeping this breed but from pictures they are a beautiful bird

 

[EmmaRainboe]

It's both a chicken and a cockerel.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Thats why its confusing! It has the nice pencilling and it also has these two black iridescent feathers, just two. Maybe its a cross? Not experienced with keeping this breed but from pictures they are a beautiful bird

The males start with partridge feathers, then grow the black. Pullets will stay partridge. His black breast is a big giveaway that he is a cockerel. I have raised Dark brahmas and the difference is very clear at this age. The good news is Brahma roosters are friendly and he is not likely to be aggressive towards you if you decide to keep him.

 

[dookdook]

Ahh i see. He actually looks darker today than he did yesterday. Thanks so much for your expertise. Unfortunately I will have to give him up, I'm in the suburbs and can't keep roosters here. But my sister has 4 acres and some hens and said she'll take him. Darn it! He's so gorgeous and brahmas are hard to come by where I am. Thanks all and have a great day

 

[Gray Farms]

Dark Brahma cockerel

 

[TheOddOneOut]

DB cockerel - and he don’t look good. What is wrong with him?

 

[dookdook]

I don't think there's anything wrong with him?? His feathers are growing very slowly compared to the other chooks, which I've read is common for the boys. He's a few weeks younger than the others, and has now grown bigger than all but one of my 9 birds. I bought him from a dodgy guy on gumtree, so he's probably not a pure dark pencilled brahma as advertised. But I don't really care, he's a sweet boy. We call him Eagle.