Is this Delaware really a hen?

[speckledhen]

That makes me feel significantly better lol. When do females combs start to turn pink? My chick's comb is starting to look pink but is definitely not really red like the 6week old cockrel you posted.

Again, it varies, but in general, Delawares are fairly early maturing. I'd look up photos, but I haven't had any really young pure Delawares for a few years and it's hard to find them all. I can't remember where I put those on my computer and various photobucket files, imagine that, LOL. I've raised Delawares for about 6 years or so. Isaac, my 5 year old rooster, wasn't my first breeding male. I had to cull my first pick from a different line when he became aggressive at about 24 weeks old, only rooster I ever actually processed and ate. Before that, I had some chicks hatched from a hatchery pair my friend owned and hated them. They were gone from here by the time they were about 8 weeks old if I remember right.

 

[Beastie]

Here are some more recent pictures.








I'm starting to get hopeful that SHE is really a SHE.

 

[speckledhen]

Um, well, I still say later developing cockerel, but I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

Here's an old thread where I was trying to sex one of my earliest Delawares:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/80757/delaware-chick-seriousbill-check-it-out-pullet-cockerel

My Delawares tended to mature very early on. The pullets have laid as early as 17 weeks, usually 18-22 weeks. The males are easy to sex by 3 weeks of age, generally. But, I have a heritage line and that's just the way this one is.

 

[EggieRowe]

Those newer pics make me think boy...

 

[speckledhen]

I've raised quite a few Delaware cockerels and though mine usually develop much faster than the hatchery ones seem to, Dellie pullets do not really have that much comb by a month old and it is already a tad pink. Though Dellie pullets develop early, they never have pink at a month old. So my first impression of later developing cockerel has turned into a pretty definite diagnosis now after looking at your last photos again. Hope I'm wrong. I'm thrilled to be wrong in these cases when someone doesn't want a male!

When I'm trying to sex a chick that is confusing me, I take close clear photos in natural outside light, just like you did. It's amazing what you will see in a photo that your naked eye didn't really pick up on.

By the way, good photos for sexing. You did both a full side view, over head close up and side close up. Good job on that.

 

[Beastie]

So we just got back from our weeklong trip to Florida. All of the chicks have grown so much it's crazy! Looking at our dely now that we are back I am pretty certain it is a roo, I will post a picture later today or tomorrow. I am gonna get ahold of the lady we got them from, hopefully she is still willing to switch him out for a different chick. In the meantime his crown is now kinda flopped/crooked. I was just wondering if this is just an odd flaw this chick developed or if something may have caused it?

 

[speckledhen]

We'd have to see a picture to see what you mean about the comb. Many folks will not take back chicks. I know I won't because of the risk of bringing disease back to my property. I look forward to seeing your new photos.

 

[Beastie]

Well she offered last week to let us switch that one out but we'll see what happens. I'll post a picture right now.

 

[speckledhen]

 

[Beastie]

Having issues uploading, lets see if it works this time....

shoulder smut...